Regulation of NKG2DL during HCMV infection.

<p>A. Fibroblasts (HF-CARs) were infected with RAds expressing IE1 or IE2 at an m.o.i. of 1. Cell surface expression of MICA, MICB, MICA/B, and ULBP2 were analyzed by flow cytometry at 72 h p.i. The results shown are representative of 2 independent experiments. B. Fibroblasts were infected with RAds expressing IE1 or IE2 at an m.o.i. of 1–8 or RAd control (CTRL) moi 1. Expression of MICA, MICB, MICA/B, and ULBP2 was analyzed by immunoblotting at 72 h p.i. The results shown are representative of 2 independent experiments. C. Fibroblasts were infected with RAds expressing IE1 or IE2 or RAds lacking an insert (RAd-CTRL). Infected cells were used as targets for IFN-α treated NK cells in a ⁵¹Cr release assay at an E∶T ratio of 1∶50. The results shown are representative of 2 independent experiments and were analyzed by 2-way ANOVA (** <i>p</i><0.01, *** <i>p</i> = 0.001). D. Fibroblasts (HF-TERTs) were mock-infected or infected with HCMV strain Merlin or deletion mutants of this strain lacking UL16 (ΔUL16) or UL142 (ΔUL142). Cell surface expression of MICA, MICB, MICA/B, ULBP2, MHC-I, or murine immunoglobulin (mIgG) was analyzed between 6 and 120 h p.i. by flow cytometry. The results are shown as median fluorescence intensity (MFI) and are representative of 2 independent experiments.