Phenotype and cytokine production of splenocytes from SR-A^−/− NOD mice.

(A) Splenocytes from 6-week-old NOD or SR-A−/− NOD mice were stained with antibodies against CD4, CD25 and Foxp3. A representative example of separate experiments is shown. Levels of CD4+CD25+ pathogenic cells and CD4+Foxp3+ regulatory cells in SR-A−/− NOD mice were similar to those in NOD mice. (NOD mice; n = 4, SR-A−/− NOD mice; n = 4), mean ± SD. CD4+CD25+ T cells; p value = 0.0571. CD4+Foxp3+ cells; p value = 0.6857. Cytokine profiles were examined after anti-CD3εAb stimulation of splenocytes from 6-week-old NOD and SR-A−/− NOD mice without poly(I∶C) treatment. (B) IFN-γ production in SR-A−/− NOD mice was higher than that in NOD mice. (NOD mice; n = 9, SR-A−/− NOD mice; n = 10), mean ± SD. ** p value = 0.0057. (C) IL-17 production in SR-A−/− NOD mice did not differ from that in NOD mice. (NOD mice; n = 5, SR-A−/− NOD mice; n = 8), mean ± SD, p value = 0.6216.