For phenotypical analysis of peripheral leukocytes, spleen samples were dissolved to single cell suspension, erythrocytes were lysed and cell numbers were determined as described previously25 (link). After blocking the FC-receptor II/III by preincubation with a CD16/CD32-specific Ab (clone 2.4G2; BioXCell), dead cells were stained using the LIVE/DEAD® fixable dead cell stain kit (InvitrogenTM GmbH). Subsequently, CD4- (PacificBlue; clone GK1.5; BioLegend), CD8α- (HV500; clone 53-6.7; BD Biosciences), CD19- (PE-eFluor610; clone 1D3; eBioscience/Thermo Fisher Scientific), CD69- (FITC; clone H1.2F3; BioLegend) and CD44-specific Ab (APC; clone IM7; BioLegend) were added for fluorochrome-conjugated surface marker staining. For intracellular staining of Foxp3 the Foxp3 Transcription Factor Staining Buffer Set (eBioscience/Thermo Fisher Scientific) was used according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Samples were acquired with an LSRII SORP cytometer (BD Biosciences) and analyzed using FlowJo software version 9.6.4 (Tree Star, Ashland, USA). Blood samples were stained according to the same procedure.
Free full text: Click here