Fig 1: Type I IFN from SCs and GERCs protects HCs from virus infection. (a) Expression sites for Ifnar1 (green) and Ifnar2 (green). (b) Ifnar1-deficient mice (n = 7) had significantly more TMEV-infected HCs (arrowheads) than wildtype (WT) mice (n = 6) (*P < 0.0001, t-test). (c) Type I IFN (IFN alpha 4 (Ifna4), IFN beta 1 (Ifnb1)) (Mock: n = 5, TMEV: n = 5) and other inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, such as interleukin 6 (Il6), interleukin 1 beta (Il1b), chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 11 (Cxcl11) (Mock 9 h: n = 4, TMEV 9 h: n = 5, Mock 16 h: n = 6, TMEV 16 h: n = 5) and interleukin 10 (Il10) (Mock 9 h: n = 3, TMEV 9 h: n = 4, Mock 16 h: n = 3, TMEV 16 h: n = 4), were expressed during virus infection (*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, t-test). (d) qRT-PCR analysis showing upregulated macrophage markers (F4/80, Mac-1, and Iba1), and M1 (Irf5) and M2 (Jmjd3) macrophage markers (*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, t-test, Mock 9 h: n = 3, TMEV 9 h: n = 4, Mock 16 h: n = 3, TMEV 16 h: n = 4). (e) qRT-PCR analysis of M2 markers after TMEV infection, including IFN regulatory factor 4 (Irf4) (Mock 9 h: n = 3, TMEV 9 h: n = 4, Mock 16 h: n = 3, TMEV 16 h: n = 4), arginase 1 (Arg1) (Mock 9 h: n = 3, TMEV 9 h: n = 4, Mock 16 h: n = 6, TMEV 16 h: n = 5), mannose receptor C type 1 (Mrc1) (Mock 9 h: n = 3, TMEV 9 h: n = 4, Mock 16 h: n = 3, TMEV 16 h: n = 4), matrix metallopeptidase 9 (Mmp9) (Mock 9 h: n = 4, TMEV 9 h: n = 5, Mock 16 h: n = 6, TMEV 16 h: n = 5) and vascular endothelial growth factor A (Vegfa) (Mock 9 h: n = 3, TMEV 9 h: n = 4, Mock 16 h: n = 3, TMEV 16 h: n = 4) (*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, t-test). Scale bars, 20 µm. Error bars, standard errors.