Figure 4. Better accumulation of effector CD4 T cells with low stability peptides.

(A) B10.BR mice were s.c. immunized with Hb_64–76, PCC_88–104, or PCC_103K peptides, challenged 7 days later with WSN-MCC_88–104 influenza virus, and analyzed on day 6 after challenge. Total number of Ag-specific CD4 T cells (Dapi⁻B220⁻CD8a⁻CD11b⁻Vα11⁺Vβ3⁺CD44^hi) in lung. (B) Splenocytes from Thy1.2⁺ 5C.C7αβ TCR transgenic mice were adoptively transferred into congenic Thy1.1⁺ mice. Recipient mice were s.c. immunized with PCC_88–104 or PCC_103K peptides and challenged 7 days later with WSN-MCC_88–104 influenza virus. Total number of 5C.C7 cells (Dapi⁻B220⁻CD8a⁻CD11b⁻Thy1.2⁺CD44^hi) in lungs on days 0, 4, and 6 postinfection. Means ± SEM for at least three animals are shown. *p ≤ 0.05, **p ≤ 0.01 (unpaired Student t test). Data shown are derived from at least three independent experiments (n ≥ 3 mice per group).