Fig. 6

CORT inhibits the function of antigen-specific CD8 T cells. Splenocytes from Clone-4 mice were isolated, labeled with CFSE, and cultured ex vivo with vehicle or 1 μM CORT overnight. Viral peptide HA was added for 2 days and CD8 T cells were profiled based on CFSE/CD44 expression. a Representative dot plots of CFSE/CD44 expression. Cells were gated on CD8 T cells. b The percentage of CFSE^low/CD44^high CD8 T cells was determined. Data represents duplicate treatments from three independent experiments. In a separate experiment, splenocytes were isolated 7 days after i.v. PR8 infection and cultured ex vivo with vehicle or 1 μM CORT for 1 h prior to addition of virus peptides NP and PA. After 4 h, CD8 T cells were stained for intracellular IFNγ production. c Representative dot plots of IFNγ production. Cells were gated for CD8 T cells. d The percentage decrease in IFNγ⁻ and IFNγ⁺ CD8 T cells was determined based on viable cell gate. e MFI for IFNγ in IFNγ⁺-specific CD8 T cells treated with vehicle or CORT treatment. Data represent splenocytes from six mice treated with each condition. Mice were treated with mifepristone (Mif) in vivo following SCI and through the infection. f Body weight loss and number of g NP and h PA-specific CD8 T cells was determined 7 days after infection. Data represent six mice per group. *p < 0.05 by Student’s t test