Fig 2: MRL/lpr mice exhibit a depression-like phenotype and have higher proportions of GFAP-positive and Iba-1–positive cells in the hippocampus. (A) Representative images of tail suspension test of MRL/lpr mice (SLE model) and MRL/MPJ mice (controls). (B) Quantitation of immobility time in MRL/MPJ and MRL/lpr mice during tail suspension test. (C) Representative images of GFAP immunostaining of the hippocampus CA3 regions from MRL/MPJ and MRL/lpr mice and (D) the corresponding quantitative data. (E) Representative images of GFAP immunostaining of the hippocampus DG regions from MRL/MPJ and MRL/lpr mice and (F) the corresponding quantitative data. (G) Representative images of Iba-1 immunostaining of the hippocampus CA3 regions from MRL/MPJ and MRL/lpr mice and (H) the corresponding quantitative data. (I) Representative images of Iba-1 immunostaining of the hippocampus DG regions from MRL/MPJ and MRL/lpr mice and (J) the corresponding quantitative data. Quantitative data are shown as means ± SEs in dot plots. P-values were determined by two-tailed Student’s t-test. (*P < 0.05) .

Fig 3: MRL/lpr mice demonstrate CNS impairment. (A) Representative images of TH and GFAP immunostaining of the locus ceruleus in MRL/MPJ (n = 3) and MRL/lpr mice (n = 5), with quantifications. (B) Representative images of Iba-1 and GFAP immunostaining of the hypothalamus in MRL/MPJ (n = 3) and MRL/lpr mice (n = 5), with quantifications. (C and D) Cumulative heat maps of time spent during the object recognition test and elevated plus-maze. A longer time spent is depicted in red and no time spent is depicted in black. (C and D) Quantitation of the number of visits to novel and familiar objects or open arms and the time spent exploring each or open arm in MRL/MPJ (n = 5) and MRL/lpr mice (n = 7). Quantitative data are shown as means ± SEs in dot plots. P-values were determined by 2-tailed Student’s t test (*P < 0.05, **P < .001).

Fig 4: MRL/lpr mice exhibit bone marrow neuropathy. (A) Relative mRNA expression in bone marrow from MRL/MPJ (n = 3) and MRL/lpr mice (n = 5). (B) Representative images of GFAP immunostaining of MRL/MPJ (n = 4) and MRL/lpr bone marrow (n = 4), and quantifications. Arrow indicates GFAP fiber. (C) Representative images of H&E staining of MRL/MPJ and MRL/lpr bone marrow. (D and E) Correlation of Gfap and Pitx3 mRNA expression with dsDNA and BAFF in MRL/MPJ and MRL/lpr mice. Correlations were examined statistically using Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and 95% confidence intervals are shown with gray fill. Quantitative data are shown as means ± SEs in dot plots. P-values were determined by 2-tailed Student’s t test (*P < .05, **P < .001).