Figure 3. pDC Impact on Nonspecific and Specific NK Cell Activation during MCMV Infection.

Mice were infected i.p. with MCMV (5 × 10⁴ pfu).

(A) Frequencies of NK cells (NK1.1⁺CD3⁻) in spleens.

(B) Expression of CD69 on splenic NK cells.

(C) Cytotoxic capacity of splenic NK cells from control and pDC-depleted mice with RMA-S target cells in standard 4 hr ⁵¹Cr release assays.

(D) Frequencies of IFN-γ⁺ NK cells in spleens of MCMV-infected mice.

(E) Frequencies of Ly49H⁺ and IFN-γ⁺-producing NK cells on day 3 p.i. Data are representative of six to eight mice from two experiments.

(F) Total numbers of NK1.1⁺ and Ly49H⁺NK1.1⁺ cells during MCMV infection.

(B and D) p value, unpaired, two-tailed Student's t test.

(C and F) Asterisks denote p values ≤ 0.03 as measured by unpaired, two-tailed Student's t test. (A–D, F) Data are from two experiments (mean ± SEM, n = 5–7).