Figure 1. Th17 cells induce more severe intestinal fibrosis in Tcrβxδ^−/− mice.

CD4⁺T cells were isolated from CBir1 TCR transgenic (CBir1 Tg) mice and cultured under Th1 and Th17 conditions and then transferred into Tcrβxδ^−/− mice (n=4/group). The mice were sacrificed 6 weeks after cell transfer. (A) Disease severity was measured by histopathology. (B-C) TNF-α (B) and IL-6 (C) levels in supernatants of colonic organ cultures were measured by ELISA. (D) Colon tissues were stained with Sirius Red, and collagen layer thickness were measured. (E-G) Col1a1, Col6a1, and Col6a3 levels in colonic tissues were measured by RT-PCR. (H-I) Colon tissues were stained with immunofluorescence. Collagen I thickness and αSMA layer thickness were analyzed. Representative data from 3 independent experiments. (A) Mann–Whitney U test; (B-I) unpaired Student’s t-test. *p < .05.