Comparable adaptive immune responses to malaria parasites in LMP7-deficient mice.

Spleen cells isolated from WT and LMP7-deficient mice 5 days after infection were analyzed. (A) Splenocytes stained with fluorochrome-conjugated anti-CD3, anti-CD4, and anti-CD69 were analyzed for activation of T cells. Gated CD3⁺ cells were separated by CD4 and CD69 expression. The CD4⁻ cell population contained mostly CD8⁺ cells. Numbers represent the percentage of all cells in each quadrant. (B) mRNA encoding IFN-γ in total RNA extracted from splenocytes of the indicated mice was quantified by real-time PCR. Values represent the relative quantities of mRNA encoding genes of interest to that of β-actin and mean ± SD of 3 mice. (C) Production of IFN-γ in splenic T cells of the indicated mice was analyzed. Gated CD3⁺ cells were separated by CD4 and IFN-γ expression. Numbers represent the percentage of all cells in each quadrant. (D) Absolute numbers of IFN-γ-producing cells were also calculated (bar graph). Values indicate mean ± SD of 3 mice. Results are representative of at least two independent experiments.