Fig 3. Early dissemination of TKO-MCMV is restored by NK cell depletion.

A. NK cells prevent early dissemination of TKO-MCMV to the salivary gland after i.n. infection of C57BL/6 mice in a manner dependent on both IFN-γ and perforin. C57BL/6 mice depleted of the indicated cells before i.n. infection or mice lacking IFN-γ or perforin were intranasally inoculated with either WT-MCMV or TKO-MCMV. Shown are viral DNA copies in the salivary gland 4 days after infection. Each symbol represents an individual animal. The solid line shows the mean value, and error bars represent the SEM. Dashed lines show the detection limit. Data are combined from at least two independent experiments for each condition. B. MCMV-specific T cells are not present in the salivary gland by day 4 after i.n. infection. Representative FACS plots show OT-I cells in the blood, draining LNs (ManLNs, DCLNs and MLNs) and salivary gland 4 days after i.n. infection with MCMV-Ova. Data show cells in one representative mouse from one experiment. C. NK cell depletion increases the TKO-MCMV DNA loads in draining LNs (ManLNs, DCLNs and MLNs). NK cells were depleted or not from C57BL/6 mice beginning 3 days prior to infection. Shown are viral DNA copies in the indicated lymph nodes individually or combined at 4 days post infection. Data are displayed as in A and are combined from 2 independent experiments.