APC from pre-diabetic and Sick NOD mice are less efficient at maintaining Foxp3 expression <i>in vitro</i>.

<p>CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells from 12–15 week-old Sick NOD mice were cultured overnight in multiple wells, either alone or with irradiated T-cell depleted spleen cells (APC) from B6, pre-diabetic (11 week-old) NOD or Sick NOD mice and anti-CD3 antibody. Cells were pooled and labeled with anti-CD4, anti-CD25 and anti-Foxp3 antibodies. CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells and APC were pooled from 3 mice. Cells were analyzed for Foxp3 expression by FACS® after gating on CD4⁺CD25⁺ cells. Representative results from one of two experiments are shown.