Figure 4: Trafficking of ILCs from the intestine to the mLN.

To assess trafficking of ILCs from the intestine to the mLN, the small intestines of Kaede mice were exposed to violet light after surgical exposure. At each time point expression of Kaede-red was assessed through comparing tissues of mice exposed to violet light with those of ambient light-exposed surgery controls. Expression of Kaede-red by ILCs (a) and CD4 T cells (b) in the small intestine at 0 h post surgery. (c) Expression of Kaede-red by ILCs in the mLN at 0 h post surgery. Percentage of ILCs (d) and CD4 T cells (e) expressing Kaede-red protein at 0 h post surgery (n=3 and 4). (f) Expression of Kaede-red by total ILCs, Sca-1⁺ putative ILC2s and CCR6⁺ ILC3s in the mLN ~24 h post surgery, here using stated cell surface markers to define ILC populations in absence of transcription factor staining. Percentage of CD4 T cells (g), ILCs (h), ILC3s (i) and ILC2s (j) expressing Kaede-red protein in the mLN at 24 h post surgery, (n=4 and 4). Percentage of ILCs (k), CD4 T cells (l), expressing Kaede-red protein in the iLN at 24 h post surgery (n=4, 4). *P<0.05 (Mann–Whitney non-parametric, two-tailed test, except d,e where unpaired t-test was used). Data representative of three independent experiments, bars represent the median values in all graphs. SI, small intestine, NC, non-converted ambient light-exposed surgery controls, PC, photoconverted mice exposed to violet light.