Fig. 8

Propionate decreases plasma cell frequencies and IgM secretion similarly in all four genotypes ex vivo. Splenocytes isolated from naïve FCG mice were stimulated ex vivo with IL-4 (0.01 µg/mL) and LPS (5 µg/mL) in the presence or absence of 1 mM C3 (propionate). Flow cytometric analyses evaluated cell viability (A) and the number of CD138 + plasma cells (B) 4 days post-stimulation. Supernatants were collected and total IgM concentrations were assessed by ELISA (C). Data are represented as the mean ± SEM with each point representing one mouse. Statistics by three-way ANOVA with Tukey’s multiple comparisons test. ANOVA results provided in Additional file 9: Table S16. Comparisons in graphs are representative of multiple comparisons tests; *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001; ****p < 0.0001. C3 = propionate. Additional concentrations of C3 are presented in Additional file 8: Fig. S8 with accompanying ANOVA table in Additional file 9: Table S17