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.