Fig 5. Impact of progesterone on immune protection of antigen-non-specific CD8 Tm cells in pregnant mice.

As shown in (A) and (B), CD8 Tm cells were generated by immunization with rAdHuOVA. At 40 days post immunization, some mice were injected with progesterone(Proge) for 2 weeks, with or without decitabine(Dec) treatment. OVA antigen-specific CD8 Tm cells purified from the spleen and MLN were adoptive transferred into antigen-inexperienced pregnant mice followed by LM infection. Bacterial CFU numbers in the spleen (A) and the liver (B) at 72 hours post infection are shown. In (C) and (D), influenza A virus NP_366-374 antigen-specific CD8 Tm cells (IVA Tm) were generated by immunization with the A/PR8/34 influenza virus. At 40 days post immunization, NP_366-374 antigen-specific CD8 Tm cells purified from the spleen and MLN were pooled and adoptively transferred into antigen-inexperienced pregnant mice followed by LM infection. Bacterial CFU numbers in the spleen (C) and the liver (D) at 72 hours post infection are shown. Error bars represent mean±SD. One-way ANOVA and Tukey’s multiple comparisons test was used to compare between multiple groups. * P<0.05; ** P<0.01; *** P<0.001. Data in (A) and (B) are representatives of 2 independent experiments with n = 4 per group. Data in (C) and (D) are representatives of 2 independent experiments with n = 4 per group.