Schistosoma japonicum Infection in Treg-Specific USP21 Knockout Mice

Figure 5

Changes in splenic immunity in USP21^fl/flFOXP3^cre mice infected with S. japonicum. (a–c) The spleens were harvested from the mice on the 42nd day after the infection. (a) CD4⁺CD25⁺FOXP3^high cells directly isolated from the spleens of WT and KO mice in the NC and INF groups were identified using flow cytometry at 42 days after the infection with S. japonicum. Comparison of the proportion of CD4⁺CD25⁺FOXP3^high cells among the CD4⁺ T cell population in the WT and KO mice in the NC and INF groups. The data are presented as the infection groups: . (b) Comparison of the mRNA levels of FOXP3, IL-10, IL-17, and USP21 in the WT and KO mice in the NC and INF groups, and the data are presented as the . For the comparison between the infection groups, FOXP3 , IL-10 , IL-17 , and USP21 . (c) The splenic cells were cultured in vitro (/group). Comparison of the levels of IFN-gamma, IL-4, IL-10, IL-17A, IL-23, and IL-9 in cultured spleen cells from the WT and KO mice in the NC and INF groups. The data are presented as the . In the NC group, IFN-gamma and IL-4 ; for the comparison between the infection groups, IFN-gamma , IL-4 , and IL-10 .

(a)

(b)

(c)