Fig. 4: Autocrine TGF-β1 regulates the pathogenicity of myelin-reactive Th17 cells.

a Schematic representation of the T cell transfer EAE model. Tgfb1^fl/flIl17a^CreR26^YFP and WT mice were immunized with MOG_35-55 peptide in CFA. Eight to nine days after immunization, lymphocytes isolated from the dLNs were stimulated with MOG_35-55 peptide in the presence of IL-23 and an anti-IFN-γ antibody. After 5 days of stimulation, FACS-sorted CD4⁺YFP⁺ T cells were adoptively transferred into Tcrb^−/− mice, and the recipient mice were intraperitoneally injected with PTX following MOG_35-55/CFA immunization. b The percentage weight change relative to body weight on day 0 is shown (n = 4–5). c, d Clinical score (c) and maximum clinical score (d) are shown (n = 4–5). e Representative FACS plots and quantification of IFN-γ- and/or IL-17-expressing cells in the CD4⁺YFP⁺ cell population in the central nervous system (CNS). f Representative FACS plots and quantification of IFN-γ- and/or IL-17-expressing cells in the CD4⁺YFP⁺ cell population in the dLNs. Data are representative of two independent experiments. Quantification plots show the mean + SEM (b and c) and ± SD (d–f); *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, and ***p < 0.001. A two-tailed Student’s t-test was performed.