Figure 3.

Vγ6⁺ T cells are the main subpopulation of γδ T cells and dominant producer of IL‐17A in pregnant mice. (a) RT‐qPCR analysis of TCRγ subunit expression in uterine tissue from nonpregnant CBA/J females and pregnant DBA/2J‐ or BALB/c‐mated CBA/J females on days 4.5 or 12.5 of pregnancy, n = 5–6 per group. (b) CD3 expression on γδ T cells from uterus and lymph nodes at day 12.5 of gestation. On the left, histogram showing a modal distribution of CD3 expression by uterine and lymph nodes total γδ T cells. On the right, CD3 MFI by uterine and lymph nodes total γδ T cells. (c) Frequency of γδ T subtypes in unstimulated γδ T cells and frequency of IL‐17A⁺‐producing‐stimulated (with PMA and ionomycin) Vγ6 γδ T cells, from the total uterine single cells suspension of a representative pregnant BALB/c‐mated CBA/J female at day 12.5 of pregnancy. Numbers indicate frequency of gated population. (d) Percentage of γδ T subtypes (Vγ⁺ cells amongst CD3⁺ γδTCR ⁺ cells) in uterus of pregnant DBA/2J‐ or BALB/c‐mated CBA/J females on day 12.5 of pregnancy and of nonpregnant CBA/J females, n = 3–6 per group. (e) Percentage of IL‐17A‐producing γδ T subtypes (IL‐17A⁺ cells amongst CD3⁺ γδTCR+Vγ⁺ cells) in the uteri of pregnant DBA/2J‐ or BALB/c‐mated CBA/J females on day 12.5 of pregnancy, n = 4–7 per group. Results are shown as mean ± SEM and are representative of at least three experiments. Mann–Whitney test was used. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 ▲ Nonpregnant, ○ CBA/J x BALB/c, ● CBA/J x DBA/2J.