Fig 1: Abolishing LTβR promotes infectivity and pathogenesis of B. garinii. (A) Expression analysis of LTA and Lta in THP-1 cells and mouse BMDMs, respectively, post B. garinii infection (MOI 1) for 12 h. Data represent mean ± SEM; ***P < 0.001 by unpaired t test. (B) Ltbr−/− and WT control C3H/HeJ mice were challenged with an intradermal inoculation of 2 × 103 B. garinii. B. garinii burden in joints was examined by genomic DNA qRT-PCR analysis at 28 d postinfection. Data represent mean ± SD (n = 8); ***P < 0.001 by unpaired t test. (C) Joint footpad swelling in B. garinii–infected mice at 28 d postinfection. Data represent mean ± SD (n = 5); **P < 0.01 by unpaired t test. (D) Histopathology of joints in mice (n = 5) at 28 d post B. garinii infection. Representative images and arrows show leukocyte infiltration. (Scale bar, 400 μm.) Arthritis index scores are shown (Right). Data represent mean ± SD; *P < 0.05 by unpaired t test. All data represent at least two independent experiments. BG, B. garinii; KO, knockout; NC, negative control.