Figure 3. Nod2 is required for the generation of T_FH and plasma cells after nasal immunization with antigen and cholera toxin.

The percentage and total number of T_FH cells (CXCR5⁺PD-1^hi) (a–c) and plasma cells (CD138⁺IgD⁻) (d–f) from the cervical lymph nodes (CLNs) on day 14 post-immunization. (a, d) The plots shown for T_FH cells were gated on CD3⁺CD4⁺ T cells and the plots for plasma cells were gated on CD19⁺ cells (left panels, WT and right panels, Nod2^−/−). (b, c, e, f) Each dot represents an individual mouse and the means are displayed by a line. (g) Number of cells producing HSA-specific IgG among total cells obtained from CLNs of WT or Nod2^−/− mice on day 14 post-immunization. Results are representative of at least two independent experiments. *P < 0.05 and **P < 0.01 by Mann-Whitney test (b, c, e, f) and by Student’s t-test (g).