CXCR3⁺ NK cells are recruited by DC to draining LNs and control disease induction. (A) EAU was induced in C57BL/6 mice. The total number of NK cells and DCs in draining lymph nodes was determined at day 5. (B) CD11c⁺ DCs were depleted by DTX injection in CD11c.DTR mice on day 3. NK cells in draining LNs were enumerated on day 5. Data in A and B are the mean ± SEM from at least two combined experiments, totaling at least eight mice per group. *, P < 0.05, Student’s t test. (C) WT or GKO NK cells were infused into EAU-immunized GKO mice. CD11c⁺ DCs were sorted from draining LNs on day 7 for gene expression analysis. (D) EAU was induced in WT and CXCR3^−/− mice. NK cells in draining LNs were enumerated on D5. (E) CD45.2⁺ CXCR3^+/+ or CXCR3^−/− NK cells were isolated and adoptively transferred to EAU immunized CD45.1 C57BL/6 mice. The number of CD45.2 NK cells in draining LNs was determined by flow cytometry at the indicated time points. (F) GKO mice depleted of NK mice were repleted after 2 d with WT, GKO, or CXCR3^−/− NK cells and immunized for EAU. Data are representative of 2 independent experiments with 3 (A, B, and D) or 4–10 (C, E, and F) mice per group. *, P < 0.05; (D) 1-way ANOVA or (E and F) linear regression.