Transcriptional characterization of PD-1 positive and negative Foxp3 negative CD4 positive T cells from liver of 5- and 10-day-old Aire-deficient C57BL/6 mice

The first T cells to arrive in the liver were mostly T regulatory (Treg) cells and metabolically active, highly proliferative T conventional (Tconv) cells. The Tconv cells had unusually high expression of PD-1 and the IL-33 receptor, ST2. As these PD-1+ Tconv cells accumulated in the tissue, they gradually lost their expression of ST2, ceased to proliferate and acquired an anergic phenotype. Gene expression profiles of flow cytometry sorted DAPI negative CD45 positive TCRb positive CD4 positive Foxp3 negative cells from liver of 5- and 10-day-old B6.Aire-KO mice