Fig. 1: Lower MCMV titers in PrP KO newborn mice due to enhanced viral control mediated by CD8 T cells.
From: Prion protein alters viral control and enhances pathology after perinatal cytomegalovirus infection
A Viral titers in the brain of congenitally infected C57BL/6J and PrP KO mice at 8 and 14 days post-infection (dpi); dpi 8 (n = 5); dpi 14 (n = 6). B Viral titers in spleens (n = 6; both groups); livers (C57BL/6J n = 7; PrP KO n = 3), and salivary glands (n = 5; both groups) at 14 dpi. C Brain viral titers in MCMV-infected animals with and without CD8 T cell depletion at 14 dpi (C57BL/6J n = 6; PrP KO n = 6; C57BL/6J αCD8 n = 8; PrP KO αCD8 n = 8). Production of IFNγ and TNFα in CD8 T cells from spleens (D; C57BL/6J n = 8, PrP KO n = 7) and livers (E; C57BL/6J n = 8, PrP KO n = 7) of congenitally infected animals at 14 dpi determined by flow cytometry staining after a 4 h incubation in the presence of Brefeldin A. F Representative dot blots (second lowest signal in the group) showing liver MCMV-M45 tetramer staining, quantified in Fig. 1G. G Frequency of MCMV-M45 tetramer-positive CD8 T cells in the liver of congenitally infected animals at 14 dpi; (C57BL/6J n = 5; PrP KO n = 4); H Frequency (%) and total number (#) of MCMV-M45 (n = 6; both groups) and MCMV-M57 (C57BL/6 J n = 5; PrP KO n = 8) tetramer-positive CD8 T cells in the spleen of congenitally infected animals at 14 dpi. I Immunohistochemical staining of CD8 T cells (CD8 antigen) and MCMV infected nuclei (IE1 antigen) in the brain of congenitally infected PrP KO mice at 14 dpi. Nuclei were visualized with DAPI. Images were acquired using a Leica TCS SP8 confocal microscope and edited with LAS X software. Scale bar represents 50 μm (left panel) and 25 μm (right panel). Biological replicates: A (7), B ( ≥ 2), C–E (2), F, G (2), H (2–4) and I (1). Titer values for individual mice are shown, with median values indicated by horizontal bars. DL detection limit. Statistical analysis was performed with GraphPad Prism using the two-tailed Mann–Whitney (U) test. Data on graphs are shown as mean ± SEM with p-values indicated. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.
