Figure 7. Commensal oral microbiota promotes Th cell activation in alveolar BM.

Flow cytometric analysis of CD4⁺ Th cells in the alveolar BM (ABM) and long BM (LBM), reported as percentage of CD3⁺ cells; n = 6/gp. (A and B) Representative gating strategy for CD4⁺ T cells in (A) ABM and (B) LBM. (C and D) Representative dot plots and quantitation (upper left; red %) for CD45⁺CD3⁺CD4⁺CD8^–CD62L⁺CD44^– naive CD4⁺ T cells in ABM and LBM of SPF versus GF mice. (E and F) Representative dot plots and quantitation (upper left; red %) for CD45⁺CD3⁺CD4⁺CD8^–CD62L⁺CD44^– naive CD4⁺ T cells in ABM and LBM of saline versus CHX mice. (G and H) Representative dot plots and quantitation for CD45⁺CD3⁺CD4⁺CD8^–CD28⁺ activated CD4⁺ T cells in ABM and LBM of SPF versus GF mice. (I and J) Representative dot plots and quantitation for CD45⁺CD3⁺CD4⁺CD8^–CD28⁺ activated CD4⁺ T cells in ABM and LBM of saline versus CHX mice. Unpaired t test; data presented as mean ± SEM; *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01.