Figure 3. Sting^gt/gt mice have functional NK cells, and are capable of rejecting MHC I-deficient cells.

Splenocytes from WT or Sting^gt/gt mice (n=4) were analyzed by flow cytometry for (A, B) absolute number (A), or percentage (B), of NK cells; (C, D) percentages of Ly6C+ (C) or CD11b+ (D) NK cells; (E) Mean Fluorescence Intensity (MFI) of NKG2D staining of NK cells. (F) Splenocytes (n=3) were stimulated with plate-bound antibodies (for NKG2D or NKp46, or control IgG). The percentages of CD107a+/IFN-γ+ NK cells were assessed by flow cytometry. (G) Rejection of B2m^−/− bone marrow cells by WT and Sting^gt/gt mice but not NK cell-deficient NK-DTA mice (n=5-6). A 50:50 mixture of CFSE-labeled B2m^−/− and WT bone marrow cells was injected intravenously, and recovery of B2m^−/− cells was assessed by flow cytometry three days later. Results are representative of two to four independent experiments.Bars represent means +/− SEM. Statistical significance was assessed using 2-tailed t tests in panels (A-F), where no significant differences were noted, or 1-way-ANOVA with Bonferroni’s correction for multiple comparisons (G).