Figure 2.

Batf3 mediates CD103⁺ DC accumulation, but not protection from Candida infection, in the mouse oral mucosa. (A-D) Tongue leukocytes were harvested from Batf3^+/+ and Batf3^−/− mice left uninfected or sublingually infected with C. albicans 5 d prior to harvest, and analyzed using flow cytometry. (A-B) Representative zebra FACS plots from uninfected mice (A) or Candida-infected mice at day 5 p.i. (B) after gating on live CD45⁺MHCII^highCD11c^high DCs, and plotting based on CD103 and CD11b expression. (C) Total number of CD103⁺CD11b⁻ DCs in the uninfected and Candida-infected tongue. (D) Percentage of CD103⁺CD11b⁻ cells within all DCs in the uninfected and Candida-infected tongue. (E) Fungal burden in Candida-infected Batf3^+/+ and Batf3^−/− tongue determined at days 1 and 5 p.i., expressed as the number of CFUs/gram of tissue. (F) Percentage of tongue epithelium with abscess formation at day 1 p.i. after oral Candida infection. (G-H) Representative images from H&E (G) and PAS (H) stained tongue sections are shown at days 1 (upper panels) and 5 (lower panels) p.i. Data in (C–F) were analyzed using unpaired t-tests or Mann-Whitney U tests, where appropriate. Data in (A-D) are representative FACS plots or combined data from 2 independent experiments with a total n of 4–6 mice/group. Data in (E) are combined from 2 independent experiments with a total n of 6–7 mice/group. Data in (F-H) are representative images or combined data from 2 independent experiments with a total n of 4 mice/group.