CD11c⁺ DCs are protected against HCMV infection by autocrine production of IFN-α, whereas PDCs might use other mechanisms. PDCs (A-C) or CD11c⁺ DCs (D-G) were incubated with mock or TB40/E (MOI, 20) in the absence or presence of IFN-blocking cocktail, as indicated. Infection was assessed by flow cytometric analysis of anti-IEA in 7 experiments with separate donors (G; P < .001). CD11c⁺ DCs were incubated with HCMV2006 in the absence (H) or presence (I) of exogenous IFN-α at a concentration of 10 ng/mL. Results of 1 of 3 representative experiments are shown (separate donors).