Expression of survival-associated mRNA transcripts by CD8 T cells activated in the presence or absence of inflammation. Mice were injected with OT-I CD8 T cells and were immunized with DC or DC+CpG immunization. mRNA expression of prosurvival-associated genes (Bcl2 and Bcl2l1), pro–apoptosis-associated genes (Bcl2l11, Bid, and Bad), and Bcl3 were analyzed in OT-I CD8 T cells harvested from the spleens of DC alone or DC+CpG-immunized hosts on days 5 (A) , 6 (B), or 7 (C) after immunization. Data are represented as mean ± SEM. Statistical analysis used Student’s t test (n = 3 from each group). **, P < 0.01; *, P < 0.05; NS = P > 0.05. Data are representative of two independent experiments. Frequencies of active caspase 3/7⁺ (D), TUNEL⁺ (E), and Annexin V⁺/7-AAD⁻ OT-I CD8 T cells (F) were measured in the spleens of DC or DC+CpG-immunized hosts between 5 and 7 d after immunization. Data are represented as mean ± SEM. Statistical analysis used Student’s t test (n = 3 from each group). NS = P > 0.05. Data are representative of two independent experiments.