Splenic B6 or <i>P2rx7</i>^-/- CD4 cell co-transfer and protection against <i>Pc</i> infection.

Abstract

<p>(A-D) Naïve CD4⁺ cells from B6 (CD45.1) and <i>P2rx7</i>^-/- (CD45.2) female mice were co-transferred into <i>Cd4</i>^-/- female mice that were then infected with 1 × 10⁶ <i>Pc</i>-iRBCs. Splenic CD4⁺ cells were analyzed at 30 days p.i. Non-infected mice were used as controls (day 0). The data were expressed as means ± SD (<i>n</i> = 5) of one representative experiment out of three. Significant differences were for the (*) indicated groups with <i>p</i> < 0.05, using the Mann Whitney U test (NS, not significant). (A) A schematic illustration of the experimental protocol is shown. (B) Dot plot shows CD45.1⁺CD4⁺ and CD45.1^-CD4⁺ cells at 30 days p.i. CD45.1⁺CD4⁺ and CD45.1^-CD4⁺ cell numbers per spleen are shown in the column bar graph. (C) Contour plots show PD1 and CD39 expression in CD4⁺ cells. PD1^hiCD39^loCD4⁺ and PD1^loCD39^hiCD4⁺ cell percentages are shown in the column bar graphs. (D) Histograms show T-bet and Bcl6 expression in PD1^hiCD39^loCD45.1⁺CD4⁺, PD1^loCD39^hiCD45.1⁺CD4⁺, PD1^hiCD39^loCD45.1^-CD4⁺ and PD1^loCD39^hiCD45.1^-CD4⁺cells. FMO controls are shown in the histograms. The MFIs of T-bet and Bcl6 expression are shown in the column bar graphs. (E-F) CD4⁺ cells from B6 and <i>P2rx7</i>^-/- female mice at 20 days p.i. were transferred into <i>Cd4</i>^-/- female mice that were infected with 1 × 10⁵ <i>Pc</i>-iRBCs. <i>Cd4</i>^-/- mice transferred with naïve B6 cells were used as controls. The data were expressed as means ± SD (<i>n</i> = 4–6) of one representative experiment out of three. Significant differences were observed for the (*) mice transferred with B6 cells at 0 and 20 days p.i. and (**) mice transferred with B6 and <i>P2rx7</i>^-/- cells at 20 days p.i. with <i>p</i> < 0.05, using the Mann Whitney U test. (E) A schematic illustration of the experimental protocol is shown. (F) Parasitemia curves are shown.</p