SC infiltration by pathogenic MOG_35–55–specific CD4⁺ T cells is increased in mice lacking MHCII expression by pDCs. EAE was induced in WT:WT and pIII+IV^−/−:WT chimeras, and cells infiltrating the SCs were harvested after 25 d. (A) Absolute numbers of total SC-infiltrating cells. (B) The percentages of SC-infiltrating cells corresponding to cDCs and pDCs were quantified by flow cytometry. (C) Representative flow cytometry profiles and histograms representing the percentages of SC-infiltrating CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells are shown. (D) SC-infiltrating cells were restimulated in vitro with MOG_35–55, and CD4⁺ T cells expressing IFN-γ and IL-17 were quantified by flow cytometry. Representative flow cytometry profiles and histograms representing the percentages of CD4⁺ T cells expressing IFN-γ and IL-17 are shown. (E) Secretion of IFN-γ and IL-17 into the culture supernatant was quantified for MOG_35–55-restimulated SC-infiltrating cells. (F) CD4⁺ T cells expressing CD25 and Foxp3 were quantified by flow cytometry in SC-infiltrating cells. Representative flow cytometry profiles and a histogram representing the percentages of CD4⁺ T cells expressing Foxp3 are shown. Bar graphs show the means and SEM derived from two independent experiments, each with at least three mice per group. ns, not significant; *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01; ***, P < 0.001.