Fig. 5: VSV^∆M51 infection of the TdLN promotes DC activation.

a Schematic of FITC painting technique. b Frequency of FITC⁺ DCs (left) and FITC⁺CD103⁺ DCs (right) in the iLN after FITC painting depicted in a (n = 7 mice/group, compiled from three independent experiments, two-tailed, unpaired t test). c, d Expression of CD80 (c) and CD86 (d) on FITC⁺ DCs (left) and FITC⁺CD103⁺ DCs (right) in the iLN after FITC painting depicted in a (n = 5 mice/group, compiled from 2 independent experiments, two-tailed, unpaired t test). e Schematic of afferent lymphatic suture experiment. f Representative ex vivo images (left) and virus titers (right) in the popliteal LN after lymphatic suture and VSV^∆M51-GFP delivery (5 × 10⁸−1 × 10⁹ PFU delivered i.v.) (left: scale at 300 µm; right: n = 8 mice/group (sham), n = 9 mice/group (suture), compiled from 2 independent experiments, two-tailed, unpaired t test). g Frequency of total FITC⁺ DCs (left) and FITC⁺CD103⁺ DCs (right) in the iLN of FITC painted mice 24 h post VSV^∆M51 (n = 6–9 mice/group, compiled from 3 independent experiments, one-way ANOVA with Dunnett’s post-test). h, i Expression of CD80 (h) or CD86 (i) on total FITC⁺ DCs (left) and FITC⁺CD103⁺ DCs (right) in the iLN of mice treated as in g (n = 4 mice/group except n = 3 mice/group (control, i.v.), representative of 3 independent experiments, one-way ANOVA with Dunnett’s post-test). j Overall survival of M3-9-M^Res1-bearing mice post VSV^∆M51 (n = 5 mice/group except n = 4 mice/group (control), log-rank Mantel–Cox test between treatment groups and control). Unless otherwise indicated, VSV^∆M51 was delivered i.v. at 5 × 10⁸ PFU. Bars at mean ± SD. For each subfigure showing data for both CD11c⁺ cells and CD103⁺ cells, the same samples were used to measure CD11c and CD103. Schematics in a and e were created in BioRender. Lab, M (2024) BioRender.com/m62j741. Source data are provided as a Source Data file. Occasionally n is given as a range as the number of mice in each group varies. Please see the Source Data file for the exact n in each group.