Figure 1. Loss of p38α in DCs prevents induction of oral tolerance and generation of iTreg cells in vivo.

(A–B) OT-II and p38α^ΔDC OT-II mice were administered intragastrically with OVA protein or PBS as controls, and then immunized with OVA emulsified in CFA; splenocytes were isolated 7 days later for ex vivo stimulation with OVA to measure T cell proliferation (A) and IFN-γ production (B). (C) Naïve OT-II T cells (Thy1.1⁺) were transferred into wild-type (WT) or p38α^ΔDC mice that were subsequently fed with OVA in the drinking water for 5 days, followed by analysis of Foxp3 expression in the donor population in MLNs (C). (D) The proportions of Foxp3⁺ population among donor CD4⁺ T cells in MLNs, Peyer's patches and spleen from (C). Data are representative of 2 (A, B, n=5 mice per group) and 4 (C, D, n≥5 mice per group) independent experiments. Error bars indicate SEM.