Fig. 1

CD8+T-cells in the blood versus the CVT show phenotypical and transcriptional differences. a Dimensionality reduction of multiple parameters measured by flow cytometric staining in CVT tissues and blood was visualized by a t-SNE plot. Representative histograms (b) and protein expression (determined by flow cytometric staining) heat map (c) show that CD4+and CD8+T-cells in the CVT express high levels of CD69, CD103, CD49a, PD-1, CD101, and CCR5. d Mean frequencies (±SD) of DN, CD69+ and DP cells in blood (black), endocervix (pink), ectocervix (purple) and vaginal tissue (dark purple). Statistical significance was determined by Ordinary one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s multiple comparisons test. n = 7, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, and ****p < 0.0001. e Gating scheme used for sorting cells in blood (upper panel) and tissues (lower panel). f MDS plot of RNA sequencing data from CD69+CD103+ (DP; triangles), CD69+CD103− (SP; circles), and CD69−CD103− (DN; squares) CD8+ T-cells sorted from the ectocervix, endocervix, blood, or vagina