Figure 3. IRF8-deficient in T cells show enhanced T_FH polarization after ex vivo stimulation.

Purified CD4⁺ T cells from Irf8^wt/wt or Irf8^lck/lck mice (A, B, and C) were stimulated with or without anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 for 48h in the presence of IL-21. Cell surface expression of PD1, ICOS, CXCR5 and intracellular expression of Bcl-6 were analyzed by flow cytometry. The percentages of CXCR5⁺PD1⁺, CXCR5⁺ICOS⁺ and CXCR5⁺Bcl6⁺ cells were compared between Irf8^wt/wt (n = 5) and Irf8^lck/lck (n = 5) CD4⁺ T cell cultures. Results shown are representative of three independent experiments. Data are given as means ± SEM.