Fig. 5.

Ikkβ^Δ mice develop a strong Th17 polarization and show increased susceptibility to develop EAE (A and B) Representative FACS plots of IL-17–secreting CD4⁺ cells in mesenteric lymph nodes of Ikkβ^F/F, Ikkβ^Δ, Tnfr1^−/−, and Ikkβ^Δ/Tnfr1^−/−, Il1r^−/−, and Ikkβ^Δ/Il1r^−/− double KO mice (A), as well as IL-17–secreting cells in Rag1^−/− and Ikkβ^Δ/Rag1^−/− compound mutants (B). Plots are representative of at least four animals per genotype. (C) Plasma IL-6 levels in Ikkβ^F/F and Ikkβ^Δ mice. Data are mean ± SE from at least six mice (n.d., not detected). (D and E) WBC counts (D) and spleen weights (E) of NU-Foxn1^nu and NU-Foxn1^nu/Ikkβ^Δ double KO mice. Data are mean ± SE from at least three mice. (F) Representative FACS plots of CD11b⁺/Gr-1⁺ cells in bone marrow of NU-Foxn1^nu and NU-Foxn1^nu/Ikkβ^Δ double KO mice. Plots are representative of at least three animals per genotype. (G) Incidence of EAE in Ikkβ^F/F (black line) and Ikkβ^Δ (gray line) mice injected with MOG_35–55 peptide (*P < 0.05 by log-rank test). (H) Proliferation of peripheral lymph node cells from Ikkβ^F/F (black line) and Ikkβ^Δ (gray line) mice restimulated with increasing amounts of MOG_35–55 peptide 12 d after first exposure. Data are mean ± SE from at least three mice (**P < 0.01). (I and J) IL-17 and IFN-γ levels in supernatants from peripheral lymph node cells of Ikkβ^F/F (black line) and Ikkβ^Δ (gray line) mice 48 h after stimulation with increasing amounts of MOG_35–55 peptide 12 d after first exposure. Data are mean ± SE from at least three mice (**P < 0.01).