Figure 1.

Administration of diphtheria toxin (DT) transiently depletes regulatory T (Treg) cells in the intestine of DEREG mice. (a) Efficacy of Treg cell depletion in colonic lamina propria. We administered DT twice weekly by intraperitoneal injection. Representative flow cytometric analysis illustrates percentage of Foxp3⁺ cells of CD4⁺ T cells. (b) Schematic time schedule of stool sampling and administration of DT for depletion of Foxp3⁺ Treg cells in gut microbiome analyses. Diphtheria toxin was administered intraperitoneally at days 0, 4 and 7 for depletion of Treg cells. Stool samples were taken before depletion of Treg cells (days −7 and 0), early after depletion of Treg cells (day 5), late after depletion of Treg cells (day 10) and after Treg cell reconstitution (day 20).