Fig. 3: Depletion of neutrophils results in increased fungal dissemination to the kidneys.

a WT and Tyk2^-/- mice were intraperitoneally (i.p) injected with an antibody against Ly6G (anti-Ly6G) or PBS (control) one day before being intradermally (i.d) injected in the back skin with 1×10⁸ CFU of C. albicans. The percentages of neutrophils (gated as CD45⁺Ly6C⁺Ly6G⁺ cells) out of CD45⁺ cells in the blood (b) and the skin (c) were determined by flow cytometry analysis on day 2 p.i. Representative contour plots and pooled data from 2 independent experiments are shown and mean values ± SEM are given; PBS: n = 11 (WT), n = 10 (Tyk2^-/-); anti-Ly6G: n = 10 (WT) and n = 6 (Tyk2^-/-); n: biological replicates (b, c). d Representative IHC pictures from the infected skin on day 2 p.i. Sections were stained with an anti-NIMP-R14 antibody (which stains Ly6C⁺ and Ly6G⁺ cells). PBS: Data are representative for sections from 8 (WT) and 11 (Tyk2^-/-) mice. Anti-Ly6G: Data are representative for sections from 9 (WT) and 6 (Tyk2^-/-) mice. Scale bar: 200 μm (top), 50 μm (bottom). e Representative pictures of the infected skin on day 2 p.i. A GMS staining of the skin sections is shown. PBS: Data are representative for sections from 8 (WT) and 11 (Tyk2^-/-) mice. Anti-Ly6G: Data are representative for sections from 9 (WT) and 6 (Tyk2^-/-) mice. Scale bar: 50 μm. f Fungal load in the kidneys of infected mice previously treated with anti-Ly6G antibody or PBS was measured on day 2 p.i. Pooled data from 2 independent experiments are shown and median values are given; PBS: n = 11/genotype; anti-Ly6G: n = 11 (WT) and n = 6 (Tyk2^-/-); ns: not significant; n: biological replicates. The dotted line indicates the assay detection limit. Statistical analysis was conducted using One-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s multiple comparison test and statistical significance is only given for the comparison between the genotypes (b, c, f). Source data are provided as a Source Data file.