We have found that deleting a transcription factor in Tregs causes fatal autoimmune disorder in mice, concomitant with accumulation of effector memory CD4 cells (CD44hi CD62L low) in blood, LN and spleen, while re-expression of the transcription factor rescues the mice, accompanied by the loss of the effector memory CD4 cells which are apparently get killed by Tregs. Surprisingly, there is only a marginal increase in apoptotic (Annexin+) cells in blood, and no increase in lymph node or spleen.
Any advice? Maybe the apoptotic cells get rapidly cleared by macrophages? If so, how to prove it?
Thanks!!
Tian
Perhaps insert a label along with your transcription factor and look to see where that is accumulating or a timeline using imaging or flow cytometry.