3.7 iNKT cells in domestic pigs were
activated
During infection with highly virulent ASFV “Armenia08”, we described
iNKT-cell frequency fluctuations in disease-affected tissues . In
trial 2 of this study, we investigated iNKT-cell frequency and
expression of activation markers (CD25, ICOS, and MHC II) and maturation
markers (CD4 and CD8α) on iNKT cells of domestic pigs according to
previous findings . We did not find changes in iNKT-cell frequency or
CD25 expression (Supplemental figure 3). ICOS was upregulated on iNKT
cells in blood, spleen, and ghLN 7 and 10 dpi (Figure 8A). Moreover,
frequencies of CD4–/CD8α+ and
CD4+/CD8α+ iNKT cells increased in
the blood of infected animals and to a lesser extent also in the spleen,
lung, and liver (Figure 8A, B). Of note, MHC II was downregulated on
iNKT cells in the blood 4 dpi and in the liver 10 dpi (Figure 8D). We
were not able to identify an iNKT-cell population in wild boar and thus
could not investigate iNKT-cell responses in those animals.