Fig. 6.

Increased IL-23 production and downstream cytokine expression in the Ncr1-Gfp and Nfil3^−/− mouse models of natural killer cell impairment and deficiency. Assessment of inflammatory gene expression in the lungs of Ncr1^+/+, Ncr1^+/gfp, and Ncr1^gfp/gfp mice (A), normalized to the Rpl32 reference gene (n = 4–11; 1-way ANOVA, Dunnett’s posttest vs. Ncr1^+/+ controls). Representative immunofluorescent staining (B) of mouse lung tissue for IL-23 (magenta), macrophages (F4/80, yellow), and nuclei (DAPI, blue). Scale bar = 50 μm. Quantification of IL-23⁺ cells (C and G), F4/80⁺ macrophages (D and H), IL-23⁺ macrophages (E and I), and IL-23⁺F4/80⁻ cells (F and J) in the lungs of both Ncr1-Gfp mice (C–F) (n = 5–6; 1-way ANOVA, Dunnett’s posttest vs. Ncr1^+/+ controls) and Nfil3^−/− mice (G–J) with pulmonary hypertension or WT littermate controls (n = 6–13; Student’s t-test). Expression of Th17-associated cytokines (K) in the lungs of Nfil3^−/− mice with pulmonary hypertension and WT littermate controls (n = 5–13; Student’s t-test). *P < 0.05 and **P < 0.01. Means ± SE.