A Multifactorial Mechanism in the Superior Antimalarial Activity of 𝛼-C-GalCer

Figure 5

𝛼-C-GalCer induces a slower and shorter in vivo downregulation of V𝛼14i TCRs and a greater in vivo proliferation of V𝛼14i NKT cells compared to 𝛼-GalCer. (a) Groups of 2 WT C57BL/6 mice were injected i.p. with 1 𝜇g of 𝛼-GalCer or 𝛼-C-GalCer, and 0, 5, 24, 48, 72, 120, and 168 hours later splenocytes and liver lymphocytes were isolated and stained with 𝛼-GalCer-loaded mouse CD1d-IgG₁ dimers to assess the level of V𝛼14i NKT cells present. The numbers shown in the individual panels represent the percentage of V𝛼14i NKT cells present in the gated lymphocyte population. The data shown are representative of three independent experiments. (b) The average absolute numbers of V𝛼14i NKT cells in the spleens and livers of 𝛼-GalCer- and 𝛼-C-GalCer-treated mice at the various time points were calculated according to the following equation: (percentage of V𝛼14i NKT cells in the gated lymphocyte population)*(percentage of total isolated cells represented by the gated lymphocyte population)*(total number of isolated cells). The data shown are the average values calculated from three independent experiments +/− SE.

(a)

(b)