Figure 2. Similar viral load and cytokine production in male and female mice.

WT and TLR9^−/− male and female mice (n = 8–9) were infected i.p. with 1×10⁵ PFU of MCMV. (A) Four days after infection the viral load in spleen and liver was determined by Q-PCR with specific primers for IE-1 and GAPDH. For each genotype there is similar viral load between male and female mice, and TLR9^−/− mice showed increased viral load compared to WT counterparts. (B) Sera were collected 36 h after infection and the production of IL-6, TNFα, IL-12p70 and IFNγ were measured by CBA flex, and IFNα and IL-12p40 by ELISA. For each genotype there is similar cytokine levels between male and female mice, but statistically decreased cytokine levels in TLR9^−/− sera compared to WT mice. Data are representative of three independent experiments. *p<0.05, **p<0.01 and ***p<0.001.