Figure 4. p53-KO T cells exhibit enhanced effector functions.

A) Splenic T cells from h3T and h3T-p53 KO mouse activated for three days were either re-stimulated with cognate human tyrosinase antigen pulsed T2-A2 cells for 6 hr. before performing intracellular staining using flurochrome conjugated anti-cytokine (IL-2, IFN-γ, TNF-α) antibody (left panel), or were re-stimulated overnight to determine the IFN-γ secretion in the supernatant by ELISA (right panel). B) The degree of degranulation was determined in naïve or three day activated h3T and h3T-p53 KO splenic T cells by staining for CD107a expression. RNA isolated from three day activated h3T and h3T-p53 KO mouse were used to determine expression of: C) Transcription factors T-bet and IRF4, and D) Effector molecules and cytokine, cytokine receptors. The fold change in expression of these molecules in h3T-p53 KO T cells was calculated over h3T cells. (*p <0.05; **p <0.01).