Expression of CD43-FL but not CD43-Ser76Ala rescues the trafficking defect in CD43^−/− T cells. (A) Resting DO.CD43^−/− T cells transduced with either CD43-FL or CD43-Ser76Ala were individually injected intravenously into naive BALB/c recipients (FL, n = 11; Ser76Ala, n = 13). Blood and lymph nodes were harvested after 16 hours and analyzed for ratio of CD43⁺ (transduced) to CD43⁻ (untransduced) cells within the CD4⁺KJ⁺ population. The bar graph represents the mean (± SEM) of the ratio of CD43⁺ to CD43⁻ CD4 T cells in various organs. Data are combined from 3 independent experiments (*P < .05; ns = not significant). (B) Surface expression (MFI) of CD62L, CD44, CD11a, and CCR7 was analyzed on DO.CD43^−/− T cells transduced with either CD43-FL (left panels) or CD43-Ser76Ala (right panels) by flow cytometry. For histograms, dotted lines represent unstained samples; solid black lines represent CD43⁺ (transduced) populations, while solid gray lines represent CD43⁻ (untransduced) populations.