Ly49G⁺ NK cells in MHC I D^k mice promote recovery of cDCs after MCMV infection. (A) Median MCMV genome values for spleens of R7 and R2 congenic mice at the indicated times after infection. (B-D) Control and MCMV-infected R7 and R2 splenocytes were stained for CD3, CD19, MHC class II, and CD11c and analyzed by flow cytometry. (B) Representative dot plots showing the proportion of CD11c^hi, MHC II⁺ cDCs in uninfected and infected R7 and R2 mice. The dot plots were gated on live CD3⁻, CD19⁻ cells (C) The graph represents the mean ± SEM for live gated cDCs in R7 and R2. (D) The graph represents the mean ± SEM for total splenocytes in R7 and R2. (A-D) Data are representative of 5 experiments with 3-4 mice per strain per time point (*P < .01, **P < .005, ***P < .0005 strain comparison at the indicated time point by Student t test). (E) The graph represents the mean ± SEM for live gated cDCs in R7, NK cell–depleted R7 (PK136) and Ly49G2⁺ NK cell–depleted (4D11) mice on day 3.5 after infection. Data are representative of 2 experiments with 4 to 6 mice per treatment group (*P < .01, **P < .005 by Student t test compared with rat IgG treated, no significant difference between uninfected and rIgG treated).