DOCK8 expression is positively associated with the peak phase of murine EAE. (A) The relative mRNA expression levels of the candidate genes in the PBMCs from MS patients and healthy volunteers (top left; n = 4). DOCK8 mRNA levels in the PBMCs (top right) from healthy volunteers (n = 42), NMO patients (n = 24), or MS patients (n = 38). DOCK8 expression in the PBMCs from healthy volunteers and MS patients by immunoblotting (bottom). (B) The total number of CD4⁺ T cells circulating in the blood (left) or infiltrating in the CNS (right) at different stages of murine EAE. n = 6. (C) Dock8 mRNA levels in CD4⁺ T cells from murine EAE at the presyndrome, peak, or remission stages. n = 3. (D) Clinical scores (top) and EAE incidence (bottom) of the Dock8^pri/+ and Dock8^pri/pri mice immunized with MOG (35–55). n = 10. (E and F) H&E and Luxol blue staining of the representative tissue sections of the spinal cords from the Dock8^pri/+ and Dock8^pri/pri mice on day 18 after EAE induction. Bars, 70 µm. (G and H) Frequency of CD4⁺ T, CD8⁺ T, and B220⁺ cells in the CNS by flow cytometry from the EAE-induced mice. n = 3. (I) The percentages of BrdU⁺CD4⁺ T cells and Annexin V⁺ CD4⁺ T cells in draining LNs from Dock8^pri/+or Dock8^pri/pri mice after EAE induction. n = 3. (J) The percentages of CD4⁺ T cells in the draining LNs and spleen. n = 3. (K) The percentages of IFN-γ⁺, IL-17A⁺, or Foxp3⁺ cells in CD4⁺ T cells from the draining LNs of Dock8^pri/+ or Dock8^pri/pri mice when EAE was induced at peak stage. n = 3. NS, not significant (P > 0.05); *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01; ***, P < 0.005. Data are representative of three independent experiments (D, mean ± SEM; B, C, and G, mean ± SD) or two independent experiments (H, I, J, and K, mean ± SD). Statistical significance was determined using unpaired Student’s t test.