Fig. 1
From: Dopaminergic stimulation leads B-cell infiltration into the central nervous system upon autoimmunity
DRD3-signalling in lymphocytes is required for the development of CNS autoimmunity. A BM chimeric mice harbouring Drd3-deficient or Drd3-sufficient lymphocytes were generated by the i.v. transfer of a 4:1 mixed BM from Rag1−/− and Drd3−/− mice (grey symbols) or 4:1 mixed BM from Rag1−/− and Drd3+/+ mice (white symbols), respectively, into γ-irradiated Rag1−/− recipient mice. Afterwards, EAE was induced in chimeric mice by immunization with pMOG35-55 in CFA followed by pertussis toxin injection and disease severity was determined throughout the time-course of the disease development. n = 4–5 mice per group. Top panel shows an illustration of the experimental strategy for generation of chimeric mice. Bottom panel shows the quantification of clinical score for different experimental groups. (B) Primary progressive EAE was induced in mice bearing Drd3-deficient (grey symbols) or Drd3-sufficient (white symbols) CD4+ T cells by the i.v. transfer of transgenic naïve CD4+ T cells (Tn; 7.5 × 105 cells per mouse) isolated from Drd3−/− 2D2 or Drd3+/+ 2D2 mice into Rag1−/− recipient mice. Disease severity was determined throughout the time-course of the disease development. n = 4 mice per group. Top panel illustrates the experimental design to induce primary-progressive EAE. Bottom panel shows the quantification of clinical score for different experimental groups. C EAE was induced in wild-type C57BL/6 mice by immunization with pMOG35-55 (black symbols) or huMOG (grey symbols) in CFA followed by pertussis toxin injection. Disease severity was evaluated throughout the time-course of the disease development. n = 6–8 mice per group. D, E At the peak of disease severity (indicated by an arrow in C), mononuclear cells were isolated from the spleen, draining lymph nodes (dLN) and central nervous system (CNS) and the frequency of CD19+ B cells from the CD45+ gate (D) and the percentage of DRD3 expression in CD19+ B cells (E) were evaluated. A control group (white symbols) without immunization (-) was included in the analysis. D, E n = 3–9 mice per group. A–E Each symbol represents data obtained from an individual mouse. The mean ± SEM are depicted. *, p < 0.05; **, p < 0.01; ****, p < 0.0001 by Mann–Whitney U test (A–C) or one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post hoc t-test (D, E)