Figure 4. DC MST1 signalling directs Th17 differentiation in vivo.

(a) WT or Mst1^ΔDC mice were immunized with OVA+CFA for 7–8 days. The T cells were isolated from the dLN and restimulated ex vivo for 3 days with OVA (5 μg ml⁻¹) in the presence of irradiated splenocytes, and the secretion of indicated cytokines were analysed by ELISA. (b–d) Naive MOG-transgenic 2D2 T cells (Thy1.1⁺) were transferred into WT or Mst1^ΔDC mice and immunized with MOG+CFA for 7–8 days. (b) Proliferation of dLN cells was determined with ³H-TdR incorporation. (c) Expression levels of IL-17A and IFNγ in donor cells in dLN. Right, proportion of IL-17A and IFNγ in donor cells. (d) Secretion of IL-17 and IFNγ in donor cells stimulated with MOG for 72 h. (e,f) Naive OT-II T cells (Thy1.1⁺) were transferred into WT or Mst1^ΔDC mice and immunized with OVA+CFA for 7–8 days. (e) Proliferation of dLN cells was determined with ³H-TdR incorporation. (f) Expressions of IL-17A and IFNγ in donor cells in the dLN. Right, proportion of IL-17A and IFNγ in donor cells. (g) mRNA expression of IL-17 and IFNγ in donor cells stimulated with OVA for 72 h. Levels in WT control groups were set to 1. Data are representative of three to four independent experiments (mean±s.d.; n=3–6). ***P<0.001, compared with the indicated groups. P-values were determined using Student's t-tests.