Figure 3. Itga1^−/− HSV-gB/K^b CD8⁺ T Cells Are Activated, Enter into the Skin, and Clear Replicating HSV.

WT and Itga1^−/− mice were infected with HSV-KOS.

(A and B) WT and Itga1^−/− HSV-gB/K^b CD8⁺ T cells differentiate comparably following HSV infection. (A) Proportion of HSV-gB/K^b CD8⁺ T cells expressing CD44, KLRG1, and CD62L in spleen, DLN, and skin 7 days post-infection. Median, IQR. (B) Left panel: frequency of HSV-gB/K^b CD8⁺ T cells expressing granzyme B⁺ in spleen and skin 7 days post-infection. Right panel: granzyme B geometric mean fluorescence intensity gated on CD44^hi HSV-gB/K^b CD8⁺ granzyme B⁺ T cells. Median, IQR.

(C) Left panel: frequency of IFN-γ⁺ among total CD8⁺ T cells after in vitro re-stimulation of day 9 skin cells or splenocytes with gB(498–505) peptide. Right panel: IFN-γ geometric mean fluorescence intensity gated on CD44^hi HSV-gB/K^b CD8⁺ IFN-γ⁺ T cells. Median, IQR.

(D) HSV-gB/K^b CD8⁺ T cells enter comparably into HSV-infected skin of WT and Itga1^−/− mice. Numbers of HSV-gB/K^b T cells recovered from the spleen, DLN, and skin of WT versus Itga1^−/− mice 7 days post-infection. Median, IQR.

(E) Both WT and Itga1^−/− mice clear replicating HSV. Skin HSV titers 4, 7, 9, and 14 days post-infection. Median, IQR.

(F) HSV-gB/K^b CD8⁺ T cells migrate into the epidermis of HSV-infected skin of WT and Itga1^−/− mice. Numbers of HSV-gB/K^b CD8⁺ T cells recovered from the epidermis and dermis of WT versus Itga1^−/− mice 14 days post-infection. Median, IQR.

Data are compiled from three experiments (A, B left panel, and E) or from two experiments (C left panel, D) or are representative of two experiments (B, C right panel). No significant differences between groups were observed using Mann-Whitney tests.