Figure 5.

OPN produced by DCs plays an important role in response to HBV antigenic stimulation in vivo.

Notes: At 24 hours after HepG2.2.15 cells supernatant direct injection into liver from the WT mice and OPN^−/− mice (A) liver histology was assessed. Original magnification, 400×. (B) Leukocyte number and (C) expressions of CD80, CD86, and MHC-II molecules on DCs in liver from the WT mice and OPN^−/− mice were measured. (D) Number of TCR⁺ cells per gram of liver tissue were detected by an automated cell counter and flow cytometry. (E) Number of IFN-γ-producing T-cells and IL-4-producing T-cells were detected. HepG2 supernatant injection was used as control. n=5 per group. Adoptive transfer of CD11c⁺ cells from the WT and OPN^−/− mice as well as HepG2.2.15 supernatant direct injection into mice liver were performed. Then (F) the number of leukocyte per gram of liver tissue was counted in the OPN^−/− mice at 0 and 24 hours; n=5 per group. (G) IFN-γ-producing cells in T-cells in liver from the OPN^−/− mice were analyzed. n=5 per group. *P<0.05; **P<0.01; ***P<0.001.

Abbreviations: OPN, osteopontin; DCs, dendritic cells; HBV, hepatitis B virus; WT, wild-type; MHC, major histocompatibility complex; IL, interleukin; IFN, interferon; TCR, T-cell receptor; h, hour.