Fig 5. NK cells in spleens of BCG-immunized mice are not activated in a DC-dependent manner.

At 6 weeks after the single vaccination of mice with BCG or PBS, NK cells (3 × 10⁵) were isolated from spleens of these animals, and then were cocultured with splenocytes (3 × 10⁷) harvested from naïve mice in the presence or absence of PPD stimulation (50 μg/mL) at 37°C for 24 h (n = 5 per group). The cells were stained with anti-mouse NK1.1 followed by anti-mouse IFNγ mAbs, and then analyzed with flow cytometry. The data are presented as mean ± standard deviation, and p values <0.05 were considered statistically significant. Similar results were obtained in two independent experiments. NS, not significant.