FIGURE 5.

Subconjunctival injection of PKHB1 peptide increased the number of CD8⁺ T cells in the dLNs. Representative flow cytometry plots and bar charts showing the frequency of CD4⁺ T cells (A) and CD8⁺ T cells (B) in the dLNs of PKHB1 peptide or PBS topically treated HSK mice at 3 d p.i. and 6 d p.i. (n = 4). There was no change in the number of CD4⁺ T cells but a significant increase in the number of CD8⁺ T cells after PKHB1 peptide administrations. (C) qRT-PCR detection of changes in the expression levels of IFN-γ in the mice corneas (n = 3). The increased expression once again demonstrated that the PKHB1 peptide activated the immune response, leading to an increase in the ability of the cornea to fight viruses. Data were presented as mean ± SD of three independent experiments. (*p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001)