SOX11 activates B-cell–specific genes and represses plasma cell gene program. (A) Messenger RNA expression levels of the indicated genes were analyzed by qRT-PCR in Z138 and GRANTA519 stably transduced with shSOX11.1 or shSOX11.3. Figure shows the fold differences compared with the corresponding control cells (±SD; n = 3 technical replicates). P values are shown. The significance of difference was determined by independent-samples t test. (B) Upper panel: BLIMP1 and IRF4 expression levels in Z138 and GRANTA519 stably transduced with shControl, shSOX11.1, or shSOX11.3 assessed by WB, using GAPDH as a loading control. Lower panel: Fold-change differences of SOX11, BLIMP1, and IRF4 protein expression levels between control and silenced cells. SOX11, BLIMP1, and IRF4 expression levels were corrected by quantification of GAPDH expression levels. (C) Histograms showing the expression of B-cell and plasma cell surface markers (CD20, CD24, CD38, and CD138) and surface IgM and IgD measured by flow cytometry in shControl, shSOX11.1, and shSOX11.3 Z138 cell lines. Isotype control is shown in gray. (D) XBP1 mRNA expression levels by RT-PCR in Z138shControl, shSOX11.1, or shSOX11.3. GADPH was used for the loading control.