Fig. 3

a Following optic nerve crush (ON-CR) at 6 weeks of age, Nf1^flox/flox; hGFAP-Cre mice at 12 weeks of age have increased numbers of CD3⁺ cells in their optic nerves relative to those receiving a sham operation (n = 6); however, there was no change in b Ccl4 mRNA expression by qPCR (n = 3). c Immediately after ON-CR, Nf1^flox/flox; hGFAP-Cre mice received intraperitoneal injections of anti-CD3 (αCD3) antibodies every other day for 6 weeks. Control mice were injected with anti-IgG antibodies. Optic nerves were analyzed at 12 weeks of age. αCD3 antibody treatment (150 µg) reduced d CD3⁺ cell content (n = 5) and e proliferation (%Ki67⁺ cells; n = 5). f αCD3 antibody treatment following ON-CR does not change Ccl5 RNA expression by qPCR compared to IgG-treated controls (150 µg; n = 3). Increased Ccl5 RNA expression in the optic nerves (qPCR) was observed 7 days after ON-CR in g Nf1^flox/flox; hGFAP-Cre (n = 3), h athymic (Foxn1^nu/nu; n = 4), and i Rag1^−/− mice (n = 4) compared to sham controls. Scale bars: a, d, e 50 µm. Two-tailed Student’s t test (ns, not significant)