Figure 6. Previously primed T cells are resistant to Treg conversion in the ocular microenvironment and instead induce uveitis.

(A) CD62L^highCD44^low (naïve) or CD62L^lowCD44^high (primed) CD4⁺FoxP3⁻ T cells were sorted from naïve or from IRBP161–180-immunized IRBP TCR Tg Rag2^−/− FoxP3-GFP reporter mice (8 and 12 animals, respectively). The sorted cells were injected into eyes of CD90.1 congenic recipients (2–5 mice/group). FoxP3 induction was assessed 6 days later. Data are representative of 3 experiments (naïve) and 2 experiments (primed). (B) Compiled data from two repeat experiments showing percent conversion. Each point is one mouse (pool of 2 eyes). Statistical analysis was by student's t-test. (C) Typical fundus and histological appearance of EAU scores illustrating changes typically observed in the injected eyes. Note that these are illustrative examples taken from a different experiment, as the eyes of the mice in panels A and B were used for flow cytometry analysis.