Fig 3. Bcl-3 is essential for efficient memory CD8⁺ T cell generation.

(A-C) Spleens of mixed bone marrow chimeric mice were analyzed at least 8 weeks after LCMV Armstrong infection. (A) Representative contour plots show proportions of H-2D^b-GP33 tetramer specific cells among WT or Bcl-3 KO CD8⁺ T cells in spleen (left). Right graph summarizes data from three independent experiments with n = 15 mice. Representative contour plots show proportions of IFN-γ (B; left panels) and IFN-γ + TNF-α (C; left panels) producing CD8⁺ T cells upon GP33 peptide stimulation ex vivo (left). Right graphs summarize data from three independent experiments with n = 15 mice for each CD8⁺ T cell genotype. (D-F) Bcl3^fl/fl and Bcl3^fl/fl CD8α Cre mice were infected with LCMV Armstrong and spleens were analyzed at least 8 weeks post infection. Data are from 2 independent experiments with n = 9–13 mice for each genotype. (D) Absolute numbers of H-2D^b-GP33⁺ CD8⁺ T cells in spleen. (E and F) Absolute numbers of IFN-γ positive (E) and IFN-γ + TNF-α positive (F) CD8⁺ T cells after GP33 peptide stimulation ex vivo. Error bars indicate SEM. **p<0.01, ****p<0.0001.