Figure 1. Deletion of GARP in Foxp3⁺ T Cells Leads to Systemic Inflammation.

(A) Percentage of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells in thymus and spleen of 6 – 8 weeks old WT and f/f cre⁺ mice. (B) Representative flow cytometry plots of CD4⁺Foxp3⁺ T cells in thymus and spleen. (C) Quantification of percentages of CD4⁺Foxp3⁺ T cells in B. (D) Representative flow cytometric plots and quantification of splenic CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells based on CD44 and CD62L expression. (E) Percentage of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells in spleen, colon and mLN from 1-year-old WT and f/f cre⁺ mice (n=5) were determined by flow cytometry and quantified. (F) Gut bacteria-specific IgA was measured in the sera of mice by ELISA (n=5–6). (G) The small intestine of WT and f/f cre⁺ mice were stained with H&E. Arrows indicate stunted and fused villi. Statistical analyses were performed by unpaired Student’s test, *** p<0.001, ** p<0.01, * p<0.05. Error bars represent mean ± SEM.