Fig 6. IL16 deficiency increases MHV68 reactivation from splenic latency.

WT and IL16 KO mice were inoculated intranasally with 5×10⁴ PFU of MHV68-H2bYFP. Mice inoculated with 5×10⁴ PFU of WT MHV68 were used as a control to gate YFP+ cells. Splenocytes were isolated at day 16 and day 18 post-infection. (A) Representative flow plots showing the identification of MHV68-infected YFP+ cells. (B) Frequency of YFP+ cells at day 16 post-infection. Results were compiled from two independent experiments with 8–9 mice per group. Each symbol represented an individual mouse, and the horizon lines represented the mean frequency of infected cells. ns = not significant. (C) Frequency of splenocytes capable of reactivating virus by ex-vivo assay at day 16 post-infection. Serial dilutions of splenocytes were plated on MEFs and the presence of reactivating virus was determined by the presence of cytopathic effect (CPE). Representative results were from two independent experiments with 8–9 mice per group. (D) Frequency of YFP+ cells at day 18 post-infection. Results were compiled from two independent experiments with 10–12 mice per group. Each symbol represented an individual mouse, and the horizon lines represented the mean frequency of infected cells. ns = not significant. (E) Frequency of splenocytes capable of reactivating virus by ex-vivo assay at day 18 post-infection. Data were generated from two independent experiments, 5 to 6 mice per experiment per group.