Figure 5: SERCA2a-reactive T cells from CVB3-infected mice can induce myocarditis in naïve A/J mice.

Splenocytes were obtained from animals infected with CVB3 between 10 to 21 days post-infection, and the cells were stimulated with SERCA2a 971-990 for two days. After resting in IL-2 medium, SERCA2a-specific cells were expanded with Con-A and the viable cells were administered into naïve A/J mice that were primed with LPS and PT as described in the methods section, where, saline-recipients and LPS/PT-primed animals uninfused with cells were used as controls. At termination on day 14 post-transfer, hearts and pancreata were collected for histological evaluation by H and E staining. Sections in the top panel represent animals that received SERCA2a 971-990-reactive T cells, where infiltrations were noted in the atria (i, and inset, ia) and myocardium (ii, and inset, iia) are shown with arrows. The bottom panel represents sections from saline and LPS/PT-groups. Normal pancreatic sections are shown in the right panels in all the groups. Representative sections from groups of four animals are shown.