RNA-Seq reveals heterogeneity in the submandibular glands and submandibular gland draining lymph nodes of SS mice

In this study, we analyzed the submandibular glands of P40-/-CD25+/- (control mice) and P40-/-CD25-/- (SS mice) after PD-1-targeted CAR-T cells or control T cells treatment using RNA-Seq. We found that the transcription of inflammatory genes was down-regulated and the transcription of tissue repair genes was up-regulated in the submandibular glands of SS mice after PD-1-targeted CAR-T cells treatment. In addition, PD-1+Tigit+CD8+ T cells in the submandibular gland draining lymph nodes of SS mice showed transcription characteristics of tissue resident memory precursors. The SS mice were treated with PD-1-targeted CAR-T cells or control T cells by tail vein injection. Treatment was started in mice around 8 weeks of age, injections were given on days 1 and 14, and mice were sacrificed 14 days after the last injection. Submandibular gland draining lymph nodes were harvested from SS mice at about 12 weeks.