Fig. 9: Deciphering the cellular crosstalk landscape associated with CD4⁺ T cell priming.

a Ligand activities (left, brown), potential receptors (middle, red), and predicted target genes (right, blue) identified by NicheNet analysis based on the key signature genes of transferred OT-II T cells in spleens from WT mice, at day 2.5 post-HDI of pHBV1.3/OVA323-339. Heatmaps showing the absolute expression levels of ligands, receptors, and target genes are also shown. b Representative Violet tracer dilution and proliferation index of OT-II T cells at day 3.5 in the spleens, dLNs, and livers from WT mice treated with anti-Itgb2/LFA1 antibody versus control antibodies, at day 3.5 post-HDI of pHBV1.3/OVA323-339 (n = 6). c Percentages of dead cells within transferred OT-II T cells in spleens, dLNs, and livers from the mice described in (b) using the viability dye eFluor 780 (n = 6). d Percentages and number of CXCR5⁺Bcl6^hi cells within transferred OT-II T cells in spleens, dLNs, and livers from the mice described in (b, n = 6). e Same as (b), but mice were treated with control or CTLA4-Ig protein (n = 3). f Same as c, but mice were treated with control or CTLA4-Ig protein (n = 3). g Same as (d), but mice were treated with control or CTLA4-Ig protein (n = 3). At least two independent experiments were performed. Horizontal lines indicate median values. Statistical significance was calculated using two-tailed Student’s t-tests. Significance levels are indicated as: *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, ****p < 0.0001. Source data and exact p-values are available in the Source Data file.