pDC depletion leads to increased bacterial loads and tissue inflammatory changes in the lungs.

Abstract

<p>Mice were depleted of pDCs using anti-mPDCA Ab prior to and during the course of infection as described in the <i>Materials and Methods.</i> Control group mice received Rat IgG2b Ab. Following infection, the animals were monitored everyday for body weight changes (<b>A</b>). At day 9 p.i., the mice were sacrificed and the lungs were collected and quantitative assessment of bacterial loads was performed as described in <i>Materials and Methods</i>. <b><i>C,</i></b> Increased tissue pathological response in the lungs of pDC depleted mice compared to control mice as analysed by H&E staining. <b><i>D &E,</i></b> Shown are the graphs depicting differences in the percentage and absolute numbers of lung T cells (CD3+), Mφ, alveolar macrophages (F4/80+CD11c+ cells), cDCs, conventional DCs (F4/80−CD11c+ cells) and Gr, granulocytes (Gr-1+ F4/80−CD11c− cells). Results are shown as mean ± SD. Results of one representative (of three) experiment with four mice in each group are depicted. *, p<0.05, and ***, p<0.001.</p