Figure 1.

E-Cadherin⁺ DCs Accumulate during T Cell-Mediated Colitis

(A–D) BALB/c Rag2^−/− mice were reconstituted with 4 × 10⁵ CD4⁺CD45RB^hi T cells and were sacrificed when displaying clinical signs of colitis. Transfer of 2 × 10⁵ CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells in combination with the CD4⁺CD45RB^hi T cells suppressed both weight loss and disease (termed protected). (A) Weight as a percentage of the initial weight at day 0. Triangle, colitic mice; square, protected mice; circle, non-T cell reconstituted Rag2^−/− mice. (B) Colon, MLN, spleen, and blood cell preparations from colitic mice were gated on CD11c⁺ DCs, and expression of E-cadherin was assessed. Representative staining is shown. Solid black line, E-cadherin; dashed line, E-cadherin isotype control. (C) Mean frequency and (D) cell number of CD11c⁺ cells expressing E-cadherin isolated from colitic colon, MLN, spleen, and blood. (E) B6 Rag1^−/− mice were injected with either 200 μg α-CD40 mAb or PBS, and after 7 days, colon, MLN, and spleen cell preparations were prepared. Mean frequency of CD11c^hi cells expressing E-cadherin. (F) 129SvEv Rag2^−/− mice were infected with H. hepaticus, and 8 weeks later, colon, MLN, and spleen cell preparations were prepared. Mean frequency of CD11c⁺ cells expressing E-cadherin. Black bars, inflamed; open bars, control; dark gray bars, protected. Error bars represent SD. In all cases, the experiments were repeated more than two times, with each experimental group containing more than five individual mice.

See also Figure S1.