Figure 1: Tfr and Tfh cells are specific for the immunizing Ag.

(a) hCLIP87-101-I-A^b, MOG38-49-I-A^b and Foxp3 staining of CD19⁻CD8α⁻CD4⁺ dLN (inguinal and periaortic) cells (see Supplementary Fig. 1) from unimmunized WT and Dko mice (top panels) and from WT and Dko mice 7 days after immunization with MOG in CFA (bottom panels). (b) WT and Dko mice were immunized with MOG35-55 emulsified in CFA. dLNs were harvested 7 days after immunization for the detection of MOG-specific activated CD4⁺ T cells (CD44⁺ MOG38-49-I-A^b+) and, among them, the follicular cells (CXCR5⁺ PD-1⁺). Within the latter, we identified Tfr cells (Foxp3⁺) in both WT and Dko mice. (c) The mean absolute numbers of total MOG-specific Tfh cells and MOG-specific Tfr cells over time in dLN after immunization of WT (solid circle) or Dko mice (open circle); error bars represent s.e.m. In a,b the numbers in the dot plots represent the mean±s.e.m. Data shown are from a single experiment with five mice per time point and are representative of three independent experiments. Data were analysed using the non-parametric Mann–Whitney test. *P<0.05; **P<0.01.