Figure 5. Comparison of WT and Itga1^−/− Epidermal CD8⁺ T_RM Localization and Morphology.

(A) WT CD45.2⁺ OT-I CD8⁺ T cells (5 × 10⁴) or Itga1^−/− CD45.2⁺ OT-I CD8⁺ T cells (5 × 10⁴) were adoptively transferred into CD45.1⁺ recipient mice. Histological cross-sections of a 1 cm² area of flank skin surrounding the initial HSV infection sites. Yellow arrows indicate CD45.2⁺ OT-I T cells; white arrowheads indicate endogenous CD8⁺ T cells. Dashed lines indicate the dermal-epidermal border. Scale bar represents 50 um.

(B) Densities of WT and Itga1^−/− OT-I T cells in the skin (left panel) and comparison of their localization within the epidermis (middle panel) and intrafollicular epithelium versus hair follicle epithelium (right panel). Median, IQR. p = 0.0286, two-tailed Mann-Whitney test.

(C) Densities of γδ T cells (left panel) and CD8b⁺ T cells (right panel) within the epidermis. Median, IQR. p = 0.03, two-tailed Mann-Whitney test.

(D) Representative images of epidermal CD8b⁺ T cells in skin of HSV-infected WT or Itga1^−/− mice at least 30 days post-infection. Scale bar represents 50 um.

(E) Circularity of epidermal CD8b⁺ T cells in skin of HSV-infected WT or Itga1^−/− mice at least 30 days post-infection. p < 0.0001, two-tailed Mann-Whitney test. Median, IQR.

Data are compiled from two experiments, with a total of six WT and six Itga1^−/− mice.