Figure 7. Integrin β3 Is Required for Accumulation of Th17 Cells in CNS.

Itgb3^−/− and Itgb3^+/− CD4⁺ T cells were transferred into separate RAG^−/− recipients that were immunized for EAE.

(A) Mean EAE clinical scores monitored.

(B) Absolute number of IL-17⁺ T cells in LNs on day 12 post-immunization.

(C) Absolute number of IFN-γ⁺ T cells in LNs day 12.

(D) CD4+ T cells from naive wt or Itgb3^−/− 2D2 mice were transferred into naive CD45.1 recipients that were immunized for EAE. Numbers of IL-17⁺ 2D2 cells in dLNs were analyzed on days 6 and 10 post-immunization.

(E) Mice were transferred and immunized as in A, and absolute number of CD4⁺ cells in CNS analyzed on day 22.

(F) Absolute number of IL-17⁺ T cells in CNS on day 22.

(G) Absolute number of IFN-γ⁺ T cells in CNS on day 22.

(H) Transwell migration assay of Th17 cells cultured under Th17(i) integrin β3-promoting conditions or under Th17(TGF) integrin β3-suppressing conditions, in presence or absence of cRGD inhibitor, wells were coated with fibronectin or PBS as indicated.

(I) Transwell migration assay of WT and Itgb3^−/− T cells cultured under Th17(i) conditions.

Data shown are pooled from three experiments with three to five mice per group, except (D), which was repeated twice, and (H) and (I), which are representative of three separate experiments. Statistical significance was assessed by Student’s t test, except for (H), which was assessed was by one-way ANOVA, and (A), which was assessed by Mann-Whitney test separately for each time point of EAE. Error bars indicate mean ± SD.