Fig. 1

Characterization of macrophages from the kidney of 18-week-old MRL/lpr mice. The mice (10 mice) were killed and kidneys were collected. F4/80⁺ pan macrophages were sorted. Eighteen-week-old C57 BL/6 mice (10 mice) were used as the control. A The F4/80⁺ macrophage infiltration in the kidneys. B and CMacrophage surface markers, CD86 and CD206 (B) or B7H4 and CD138 (C), were checked by using flow cytometry. D Macrophage intracellular markers, iNOS and Arg-1, were examined by using immunoblotting. GAPDH was used as a control (n = 3). E The pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines secreted from the macrophages were measured using ELISA. F The ROS level of the macrophages. G The efferocytosis of pHrodo Red-labeled apoptotic TCMK-1 cells (pHrodo Red) by the macrophages. H The Foxp3⁺ Treg infiltration in the kidneys was analyzed by using flow cytometry. Data are expressed as mean ± SD of n = 4, unless specified. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 and ***p < 0.001. IC, isotype control. Control, the cells collected from C57 BL/6 mice. SLE, the cells collected from MRL/lpr mice