Sialokinin knockout mosquito bites alter levels of plasmacytoid dendritic cells in humanized mice.

Hu-NSG mice were subjected to four bites each from sialokinin knockout mosquitoes and were euthanized 7 days postbite. Skin (A), blood (B), spleen (C), and bone marrow (D) were collected and changes in DC populations were assessed via flow cytometry. Mosquito Bite indicates mice bitten by wild-type mosquitoes, and Unbitten indicates mice that were not bitten by mosquitoes. Data are represented as the mean percentage of the cell population out of total human CD45+ cells. Error bars represent 1 SEM. Statistical significance was determined using two-way ANOVA followed by multiple comparison t-tests using the Holm-Sidak correction. The threshold for significance was ppp<0.001. Cell markers used to describe populations: Conventional dendritic cells: CD3-, CD19-, CD14-, CD123-, CD11c+; Plasmacytoid dendritic cells: CD3-, CD19-, CD14-, CD123+, CD11c-; Monocyte derived dendritic cells: CD3-, CD19-, CD14-, CD11b-, CD11c+, HLA-DR+; myeloid dendritic cells: CD3-, CD19-, CD14-, CD11b+, CD11c+.