Fig. 3

CD4⁺ T-cells are essential for the resolution of productive MCMV infection in neurons. A-B Newborn wild-type C57BL/6, CD4- (CD4^-/-) and CD8-deficient (CD8^-/-) mice were infected i.p. with MCMV. Viral titers in the brain (n = 10 mice) were determined on A 14, 30, 70, and B 120 dpi. Titers in brains of individual mice are shown (circles). Black horizontal lines indicate the median values. D.L., detection limit. A Kruskal–Wallis test and B Mann–Whitney two-tailed test were used. C-H Immunohistochemical analysis of MCMV infection in neurons, astrocytes and microglia of CD4^-/- mice at 37 dpi (n = 6 mice, 10 sections/mouse). C A simplified 2D sagittal view of the location of IE1⁺ cells in the brain regions. Each colored dot represents individual IE1⁺ cells in six individual mice. D Representative MAP2 (neuron marker, brown) and MCMV IE1 (virus infection, red) co-staining of paraffin-embedded brain sections. Arrows point to the MCMV-infected neurons (40x magnification, 100x magnification insert). E Quantification of IE1⁺MAP2⁺ neurons in the brain. F Quantification of IE1⁺GFAP⁺ astrocytes in the brain. G Representative GFAP (astrocyte marker, brown) and MCMV IE1 (virus infection, red) co-staining of paraffin-embedded brain sections. Arrow points to the MCMV-infected astrocyte (40x magnification, 100x magnification insert). H Quantification of IE1⁺IBA1⁺ microglia in the brain. E-F, H Columns indicate median values. Mann–Whitney two-tailed test was used. p values indicate statistically significant differences