Fig. 3: CD8-specific deletion of TRIM28 results in defective function of CD8⁺ T cells in tumor and infection.

a–e Trim28^fl/flCd8a^Cre mice and control mice were inoculated with E.G7 tumor cells. Mice were ethically euthanized using carbon dioxide asphyxiation and analyzed at day 17 post inoculation. Mean tumor volume of intradermal E.G7 implants in WT versus Trim28^-/- mice (a). H-2K(b) tetramer⁺ CD8⁺ T cells among total CD8⁺ T cells (b). Flow cytometry analysis showing IFN-γ (c), Granzyme B (d) and T-bet (e) expression in CD8⁺ TILs. f–h naive Trim28^-/- and WT OT-I cells were sorted, and 1 million cells were i.v. transferred into CD45.1 mice. Recipient mice were inoculated with 1 × 10⁶ EG7 tumor cells at day 1 post transfer. Mice were ethically euthanized using carbon dioxide asphyxiation and analyzed at day 15 post inoculation. Mean tumor volume of intradermal E.G7 implants in WT OT-1 versus Trim28^-/- OT-1 group (f). Expression of IFN-γ (g) and Granzyme B (h) in CD8⁺ TILs. i–k Trim28^-/- and WT mice were infected i.v. with LCMV Armstrong (2 × 10⁵ pfu), and spleens were collected and analyze at day8 post infection. i.v., intravenous injection. i Viral loads were measured by qPCR. j Expression of IFN-γ by antigen-specific CD8⁺ T cells was measured. k Representative FACS plots showing T-bet expression in antigen-specific CD8⁺ T cells. Each dot represents one individual mouse (n  =  4 per group in a–e, j–k, n = 6 per group in (f–h). Error bars represent the SD. Statistical significance was tested by two-way ANOVA (a, f) and unpaired two-sided Student’s t-test (b–e, g–k). Data are representative of two (i-k) and three (a–h) independent experiments.