Figure 7. Sepsis does not lead to a cell intrinsic deficit in CD4 T cell expansion.

(A) Experimental design: Thy1.1/1.1 2D2 TCR-Tg mice underwent sham surgery while Thy1.1/1.2 2D2 TCR-Tg mice underwent CLP surgery. 2D2 mice were euthanized 4 days post-surgery and splenic 2D2 cells were mixed at a 1:1 ratio prior to transfer into naive Thy1.2/1.2 B6 mice. Non-EAE mice received 5 × 10⁶ of each 2D2 population, whereas EAE mice received 5 × 10³ of each 2D2 population. A day after transfer, EAE was either induced or not in the respective recipient group. Survival of the transferred 2D2 cells (assessed in non-EAE hosts) was assessed in the iLN 5 days after transfer. Expansion of the transferred 2D2 cells (assessed in EAE hosts) was assessed in the iLN 5 and 7 days after transfer. (B) Representative profiles of the 2D2 input and output on indicated days for both EAE and non-EAE hosts. (C) The ratio of Sham to CLP 2D2 cells in the input and output at indicated days for both EAE and non-EAE hosts. Data are from 1 experiment with two to five mice per group. *p<0.05. Error bars represent the standard error of the mean.