Figure 4. Primed ST2^−/− T cells induce EAE in WT and ST2^−/− recipient.

The donor cells were isolated from popliteal lymph nodes 9 days after foot pad immunization of ST2^−/− BALB/c and BALB/c WT mice with MOG/CFA emulsion. Donor cells were restimulated with MOG_35–55 peptide (50 µM) for 72 hours and 1×10⁷ were transfer to ST2^−/− and WT BALB/c mice. Mice were observed every day after injection for disease onset and clinically scored. Data are presented as the mean of two independent experiments with 5 animals in each group in each experiment (n = 10 in both groups * P<0.05) (A). Lymph node's mononuclear cells harvested from donor mice and restimulated in vitro with MOG_35–55 peptide (50 µM) for 72 hours are analyzed for expression of inflammatory cytokines (B) and markers of Th1 and Th2 differentiation (C). Data are presented as the mean+SD from representative experiment with 10 animals in each group. Histograms and mean values presented in the graphs are gated on CD4⁺ cells (C). Levels of proinflammatory cytokines were measured in cell culture supernatants by ELISA and CBA. Data are presented as the mean+SD of two independent experiments, 10 animals per group (D). Statistical significance was tested by Student’s t-test.