Figure 3. Increased Virus Titers in Stat1^ΔM/PMN Mice Are Partially, but Not Completely, Dependent on NK Cells.

(A and B) Percentage of NK cells in controls (PBS) and MCMV-infected Stat1^fl/fl and Stat1^ΔM/PMN mice (A) and (B) percentage of IFNγ-producing NK cells and representative FACS plots (n = 3–6, N = 2).

(C) Plasma levels of IFNγ determined by ELISA (n = 9, N = 2).

(D) The percentage of GZMB-positive NK cells with representative FACS plots (n = 7–12, N = 2).

(E) NK cell proliferation of MCMV-infected and control (PBS) mice was evaluated at the times indicated by flow cytometry using DAPI/Ki67 double staining (n = 8, N = 2).

(F) Viral load in spleens from Stat1^fl/fl and Stat1^ΔM/PMN mice infected i.p. with 5 × 10⁵ PFU of Δm157-MCMV (n = 4 or 5, N = 1).

(G) Viral load in spleens of MCMV-infected mice after NK cell depletion (αNK1.1) or control (PBS) treatment (n = 10, N = 2). Horizontal lines and error bars indicate mean ± SEM. ^**p ≤ 0.01, ^***p ≤ 0.001, and ^****p ≤ 0.0001 (statistical significance between the genotypes); ^###p ≤ 0.001 and ^####p ≤ 0.0001 (statistical significance relative to the PBS control). n, biological replicates; N, experimental repetitions.

See also Figure S3.