Fig. 1

Timelines of the two different experimental approaches, MOG titer of the different experimental groups, and immunohistochemical staining of the spleen with two different B-cell markers. Experiment 1 is shown in a, where B-cell depletion is induced after catheter implantation and immunization. The MOG antibody titer is already established at that time. The hypothesis behind this approach is, that after cytokine injection through the catheter, cortical demyelination in our rats is at least reduced. In b, experiment 2 is schematically illustrated. Rats are treated with anti-CD20 therapy after catheter implantation but before immunization with MOG. The hypothesis is, that after treatment with anti-CD20 antibodies, less or no demyelination is expected. In both experiments, the healing period takes approximately 14 days of time and the establishing of MOG antibody titer approximately 4 weeks. The arrows indicated as “anti-CD20 therapy” mean one set of 2 injections with a time span of 7 days in between of either anti-CD20 antibodies or isotype control antibodies. In c, the MOG titer of the different groups is shown in μg/mL, with the results being in a comparable range (5–10 μg/mL) with no significant differences in between, except E2. As expected, only the E2 group, highlighted with a box around this group, shows significant differences to C0 (p = 0.017), C2 (p = 0.014), and E1 (p = 0.004). The asterisk indicates an outlier. The immunohistochemical stainings of spleen (d) show pictures near lymph follicle, opposed are control groups (C1 and C2) and experimental groups (E1 and E2), respectively. The first line shows CD45R positive cells and the second line represents CD20 positive cells (positive cells appear in brown). Both markers show more positive cells in C1 and C2 in comparison to E1 and E2, as expected. In additional Figure 2 (e, f), a quantification of CD20 and CD45R positive cells in lymph follicles is represented with significant differences between experimental groups and control groups (p < 0.009). Scale bars represent 50 μm