Figure 6: NK cells are necessary and sufficient for MHC-dependent impaired remodelling.

(a–c) Stereological and immunohistochemical analysis of arterial size (a) and relative thickness (b) of B6.Rag2^−/− females (lacking mature T and B cells) mated with either B6 or D8 males. Pooled data from 4 litters per cross, n=12–14 implantation sites. P-values from unpaired Student’s t-tests. Means±s.e.m. (c) Smooth muscle actin staining showing that loss of actin in the media is reduced in matings with D8 males regardless of the absence of mature T and B cells (black arrows). (d–f) Stereological and immunohistochemical analysis of arterial size (d) and relative thickness (e) of B6.Rag2^−/−IL2rg^−/− females (lacking mature NK, T and B cells) mated with either B6 or D8 males. Pooled data from 4 litters per cross, n=10 implantation sites. P-values from unpaired Student’s t-tests. Means±s.e.m. (f) Smooth muscle actin staining (black arrows) showing no MHC-dependent difference in the reduction of smooth muscle actin in the absence of mature NK, T and B cells (black arrows). Scale bars=100 μm.