Decreased CD4⁺ cell cytokine production, macrophage phagocytosis and bacterial clearance in CLP-induced Atg7^f/fCD4-Cre mice.

<p>Splenocytes obtained at 18h after surgery were isolated with CD4 MicroBeads, and stimulated by anti-CD3/CD28 for 24h for cytokine production (A). In vitro phagocytosis, splenocytes obtained at 18h after CLP and cultured with <i>E. coli</i> BioParticles for 1h (B). Cells were then stained with surface marker (F4/80) and analyzed by flow cytometry. The light gray histogram represents a staining control without adding <i>E. coli</i> BioParticles. Blood and spleen tissues were collected at 18h after CLP and analyzed for bacteria loads (C). For bacterial loads, results were expressed as CFU per milliliter of blood and CFU per spleen tissue. Values of cytokine production and bacterial loads are shown as mean ± SEM of 6–8 animals in each group. Values of phagocytosis are shown as mean ± SEM of 3 animals in each group. Data are compared by one-way analysis of variance and Student-Newman Keul's test for cytokine production and phagocytosis. Data are compared by two-tailed Student t-test for bacterial loads. CLP: cecal ligation and puncture. †<i>P</i><0.05 vs. sham-operated Atg7^f/f mice. *<i>P</i><0.05 vs. respective sham mice. #<i>P</i><0.05 vs. CLP-induced Atg7^f/f mice.