Fig. 4.

AhR antagonism suppresses PMN-MDSCs and aggravates ESS development. a Representative flow cytometric analysis and numbers of MDSCs in the spleens of ESS mice treated with PBS or CH2231911. b Salivary function was assessed in ESS mice treated with PBS or CH2231911 14 days post-immunization (n = 8). c, d Splenic CD4⁺CD44⁺ T effector cells, including Th1, Th17, and Tfh subsets, were examined and enumerated (n = 5). e, f Upon ESS induction, immunized mice were fed a normal diet (Ctrl) or tryptophan-free diet for 14 days, and the salivary function and serum levels of autoantibodies were assessed (n = 4). g Representative flow cytometric analysis of plasma cells in the spleen of ESS mice fed a control or tryptophan-free diet. h, i Representative flow cytometric analysis of Th1, Th17, and Tfh cells (h) in the spleen of ESS mice fed a control or tryptophan-free diet, which were further enumerated (i). Data were derived from at least three independent experiments. Data were presented as the mean ± SD. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, and ***P < 0.001