Fig. 1: Loss of Ubc9 impairs CD4 T cell proliferation along with lymphoid organ atrophy.
From: SUMOylation of PDPK1 Is required to maintain glycolysis-dependent CD4 T-cell homeostasis
A Representative photograph of thymus and spleen from WT (left) and KO (right) 5-week-old mice. B, C Spleens were surgically removed to determine the peripheral CD4 and CD8 T cells. Proportion of splenic CD4 T cells: (WT: 22.77 ± 0.22% vs. KO: 6.76 ± 0.23%, p < 0.001); CD8 T cells: (WT: 10.70 ± 0.17% vs. KO: 3.52 ± 0.11%, p < 0.001). Count of splenic CD4 T cells: (WT: 9.78 ± 0.36 × 106 vs. KO: 1.48 ± 0.20 × 106, p < 0.001). D Bone marrow (BM) cells were flushed to check for CD4 T-cell percentage within the BM compartment, and (E) the expression of CCR4 was examined on peripheral CD4 T cells. F Thymuses were taken to probe the Ki67+ proliferative cells in either DP (WT: 53.53 ± 1.46% vs. KO: 45.18 ± 1.47%, p < 0.01) or CD4 SP (WT: 14.27 ± 0.52% vs. KO: 8.66 ± 0.36%, p < 0.001) thymocytes. G Annexin-V staining was applied to detect the apoptosis level of peripheral CD4 T cells (WT: 9.73 ± 0.39% vs. KO: 45.18 ± 1.47%, p < 0.01). H, I CD4 T cell (WT: 18.17 ± 0.78% vs. KO: 10.30 ± 1.25%, p < 0.01) and Treg proliferation (WT: 13.48 ± 0.93% vs. KO: 8.31 ± 0.46%, p < 0.01) were indicated by Ki67 positively stained cells. For (B–H), the mean ± SD is shown from n = 3 mice. For (I), the mean ± SD is shown from n = 5 mice. The p-value was determined by Student’s unpaired t-test.
