Protection from chronic <i>T. muris</i> infection in mice lacking the TGFβ-activating integrin αvβ8 on DCs is dependent on CD4+ T-cells, but does not involve Foxp3+ Tregs.

<p>(<i>A</i>) Worm burdens from control and <i>Itgb8 (CD11c-Cre)</i> mice crossed onto a SCID background analysed at day 32 post-infection (p.i.) with a chronic dose of <i>T.muris</i> eggs. Data (n = 4–9 mice per group) are from two independent experiments performed. (<i>B</i>) Worm burdens from <i>Itgb8 (CD11c-Cre)</i> mice infected with a chronic dose of <i>T.muris</i> eggs and treated with 2 mg of control IgG or anti-CD4 antibody (YTS191) analysed at day 17 p.i. Data (n = 6 mice per group) are from two independent experiments performed. (<i>C</i>) Control and DEREG mice were infected with a chronic dose of <i>T. muris</i> eggs, injected i.p. with 200 ng diphtheria toxin every 2 days (starting 2 days before infection) and worm burdens analysed at day 14 p.i. Data (n = 10 mice per group) are from two independent experiments performed. (<i>D</i>) Percentage of Foxp3+ Tregs of CD4 T-cells in mLN, IEL and LILP populations during <i>T. muris</i> infection as analysed by flow cytometry. Data (n = 7–11 mice per group) are from four independent experiments. (<i>E</i>) Caecal lamina propria worm burdens in control, <i>Itgb8 (CD11c-Cre)</i> and <i>Itgb8 (CD11c-Cre)</i> mice injected with 0.5×10⁶ GFP-Foxp3+ CD4 T-cells 3 days prior to infection. All mice received a chronic dose of <i>T. muris</i> and were analysed at day 14 p.i. for worm burden or day 3 p.i. for reconstitution. Data (n = 3–4 mice per group) are from three independent experiments. **, P<0.01; or ***, P<0.005, N.S., not significant via Kruskal–Wallis (D) and Student's <i>t</i>-test (A, B, C and E) for the indicated comparisons between groups, error bars represent SE of means.