Increased astrocyte activation colocalizes with CNS vascular permeability post-induction of PIFS in perforin^−/− mice reconstituted with perforin competent CD8 T cells.

<p>Representative confocal microscopic images illustrating astrocyte expression of GFAP in (A) E7 peptide-treated (n = 4) and (B) VP2_121–130 peptide-treated (n = 6) perforin^−/− mice reconstituted with perforin competent CD8 T cells. Mice treated with (B) VP2_121–130 peptide displayed increased astrocyte activation, as measured by heightened GFAP expression, in areas of CNS vascular permeability when compared to (A) mock E7 peptide-treated negative control mice. CNS permeability is determined by leakage of intravenously administered FITC-albumin.