Comparative analysis of CD85j and KIR expression in NKG2C⁺ and NKG2A⁺ NK cells. PBLs were stained with anti-CD3 and either anti-NKG2C or NKG2A mAbs in combination with anti-CD85j or a mixture of KIR-specific mAbs (KIR3DL1, 2DL1/S1, and 2DL2/S2/L3). NKR expression was selectively analyzed in NKG2C⁺ and NKG2A⁺ cells, gating on CD3⁺ and CD3^- cells (Protocol 3; see “Immunofluorescence and flow cytometry analysis”). (A) The staining pattern observed in a representative case is displayed. (B) The proportions (mean ± SEM) of CD85j⁺ and KIR⁺ cells detected in PBL samples from 5 different donors are shown. Statistical analysis was carried out as described in “Patients, materials, and methods”; ^*P < .05; ^**P < .01.