T cell activation and regulation changes in draining lymph nodes and spleens from <i>St14</i>^– mice.

<p>Salivary gland draining lymph nodes (DLN) and spleens were collected from <i>St14⁺</i> and <i>St14^–</i> animals. Samples from 2–3 mice were pooled per group and used to detect CD4, CD8 and CD62L expression by flow cytometry. (A, B) Both CD4+ and CD8+ cells were significantly decreased in both the DLN and spleens from <i>St14^–</i> mice compared with <i>St14⁺</i> mice. CD62L expression was also decreased on both CD4+ and CD8+ cells in <i>St14^–</i> mice compared with <i>St14⁺</i> mice. (C, D, E) The percentage and total number of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ natural T regulatory cells (nTreg) were altered in the DLN and spleen cells. Data shown are the mean ± SEM for each animal group (<i>N</i> = 4 for both groups). Statistical significance was determined using an unpaired Student’s <i>t</i>-test. *<i>P</i><0.05, **<i>P</i>≤0.001, ***<i>P</i><0.0001.