Constraints in antigen presentation severely restrict T cell recognition of the allogeneic fetus
J. Clin. Invest. Adrian Erlebacher, et al. 117:1399 doi:10.1172/JCI28214 [Go to this article.]

Figure 6
Maternal OT-II CD4⁺ T cells respond to fetal/placental OVA via indirect presentation. (A) OT-II cell proliferation in secondary lymphoid organs. B6CBAF1 females mated to Act-mOVA or B6 control males were adoptively transferred with CFSE-labeled B6CBAF1 OT-II T cells. OT-I cells were visualized by flow cytometry at the end of their indicated 4-day window of exposure. The percentage of cells undergoing more that 1 cell division is noted; such cells were only rarely observed in B6-mated females at any stage of gestation. Data are representative of n = 6 Act-mOVA–mated mice and n = 6 B6-mated mice over 3 independent experiments. (B) Indirect presentation of fetal/placental OVA. Splenocytes from B6- or Act-mOVA–mated B6 or B6.C-H2^bm12 females were analyzed 4 days after the injection of CFSE-labeled OT-II cells late in gestation (on or after E13.5). Data are representative of 2 independent experiments, encompassing n = 5 Act-mOVA–mated B6.C-H2^bm12 mice, n = 5 Act-mOVA–mated B6 mice, and n = 2–4 mice each in the 2 other mating groups. Identical results were obtained with LN cells.