TSC1 is required for naive CD8⁺ T cell homeostasis in adoptive transfer mouse models.

<p>Sorted naïve CD8⁺T cells were adoptively transferred into syngeneic Rag1^−/− or irradiated recipients. The levels of transferred naïve CD8⁺T cells in spleen and pLNs of recipients were determined 7 days after transfer. (<b>A</b>) Schematic representation of adoptive transfer of either WT or Tsc1 KO CD45.2⁺ naïve CD8⁺ T cells into Rag^−/− host. (<b>B</b>) One representative staining of CD8⁺T cells in pLN of Rag1^−/− mice after transfer of sorted naïve CD8⁺T cells. (<b>C</b>) Tsc1 KO CD45.2⁺ naïve CD8⁺ T cells showed homeostatic defect in spleen and pLNs. Statistic analysis of percentage and numbers of transferred CD8⁺T cells in spleen as well as pLN. (<b>D</b>) Schematic representation of adoptive transfer of mixed(1∶1) population of WT CD45.1⁺ and Tsc1 KO CD45.2⁺ naïve CD8⁺T cells into Rag^−/− host. (<b>E</b>) One representative staining of CD45.1 and CD45.2 on gated CD8⁺T cells in pLNs of Rag1^−/− mice 7 days after transfer of sorted naïve CD8⁺T cells. (<b>F</b>) The ratio between WT CD45.1⁺CD8⁺ and Tsc1 KO CD45.2⁺CD8⁺ T cells as well as the frequency of CD45.1⁺ or CD45.2⁺CD8⁺ T cells in spleen and pLNs were summarized. (<b>G</b>) Schematic representation of adoptive transfer of either WT or Tsc1 KO CD45.2⁺ naïve CD8⁺ T cells into sublethally irradiated(4 Gy) CD45.1⁺ host. (<b>H</b>) One representative staining of CD45.1 and CD8 for pLN cells of recipients 7 days after transfer of sorted naïve CD8⁺T cells. (<b>I</b>) Lower percentage and cell number of Tsc1 KO CD45.2⁺ naïve CD8⁺ T cells in spleen and pLNs. *p<0.05, **p<0.01, and ***p<0.001 compared with WT group. Data were shown as Mean±SD (3–5 mice each group). One representative of two or three independent experiments with identical results was shown.