High Thymic Output of Effector CD4⁺ Cells May Lead to a Treg : T Effector Imbalance in the Periphery in NOD Mice

Figure 1

Low percentages of CD4⁺Foxp3⁺ cells are found in the periphery of NOD mice shortly before onset of overt diabetes. (a) Female NOD mice were monitored weekly for glycosuria and considered diabetic when they had two consecutive positive readings (>250 mg/dl). Diabetes incidence is expressed as a percentage of the mice that are positive for glucose (). (b) Percentages of CD4⁺ cells that express Foxp3 were analyzed in the peripheral lymph nodes of female NOD and B6 mice at varying ages. denotes a significant difference at (-10). (c) Sample histograms of Foxp3 expression in CD4⁺ cells from 12-week-old female B6 and NOD mice.

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