Pharmacologic Activation of LTβR Signaling Partially Restores CCL21 Expression and T Cell Localization in the Spleen of MCMV-Infected Mice

<div><p>(A) Quantitative PCR was used to determine the relative levels of CCL21 gene expression 3 d post-MCMV infection in spleens from control- or virus- (V) infected mice ± agonistic anti-LTβR antibody (Ab) treatment.</p><p>Left panel, 3.2 × 10⁵ pfu of MCMV was used for infection, and only total CCL21 mRNA levels were analyzed using CCL21u primers (see below).</p><p>Right Panel, mice were infected with 1.5 × 10⁵ pfu MCMV and expression of the various CCL21 isoforms was determined. CCL21u, universal CCL21 primers that amplify both the leucine (leu) and serine (ser) isoforms; <i>p</i> = 0.02</p><p>(B) Shown are representative spleen sections from the same mice that were analyzed in the right panel of (A). Sections were incubated with an antibody to detect MMM (MOMA-1, MMM, blue), and adoptively transferred, CFSE-labeled T cells are green. The number of CFSE labeled T cells located per WP area after transfer was analyzed (<i>n</i> = number of WP regions analyzed per spleen), and differences between groups of infected mice ± antibody is statistically significant to a <i>p-</i>value < 0.0001.</p>