IL-7 adjuvant treatment increases Melan-A–specific effector and memory CD8⁺ T-cell responses on recombinant lentivector immunizations. (A) Mice immunized with recombinant lentivector/Melan-A_26-35 were either treated with rIL-7 () or left untreated (−) during the effector phase of the immune response (days 10-23). The number of Tet⁺CD8⁺ T cells (left panel) and the number of Tet⁻CD8⁺ T cells (right panel) per milliliter of blood are shown at different time points after immunization. Error bars represent SD (n = 12). (B) In a separate experiment, mice were treated as in panel A. All mice received BrdU in the drinking water (days 10-23). Graphs represent the kinetics of BrdU incorporation in Tet⁺ (left panel) and in Tet⁻ (right panel) CD8⁺ T cells. The number of BrdU⁺ cells per milliliter of blood at the indicated time points is shown. Error bars represent SD (n = 7). (C) Ratio between CD127^hi and CD127^lo Tet⁺CD8⁺ T cells in untreated (■) and IL-7–treated () mice. Error bars represent SD (n = 12). The gray boxes in panels A and C represent the IL-7 treatment period; and in panel B, the IL-7 and BrdU treatment period. *P < .05.