Fig. 5
Effect of P2/P3 transgenes on the expression of cytokines in infected mice. a IFN-γ levels in the supernatants of the splenic cultures were determined by ELISA. Spleen cells were prepared 8 days post-infection from B6 and SJL mice (n = 3). Cells were cultured for 72 h in the presence of PBS or a mixture of 1 μM peptides. Culture supernatants were collected for ELISA. S mix for cells from B6 mice, VP2206–220, and VP425–38; S mix for cells from SJL mice, VP1233–250, VP274–86, and VP324–37; and NS mix for both, 3D6–23 and 3D20–38. b The proliferative response of epitope-specific CD4+ T cells was measured based on [3H]-thymidine incorporation levels. Spleen cells from wild-type or P2/P3 transgenic B6 mice were stimulated with PBS, the CD4 peptide mix (VP2206–220 and VP425–38) or plate-bound anti-CD3/CD28 antibodies. IFN-γ levels in the supernatants of the cultures were assessed with ELISA. Values given are the means (±SD) of the results from triplicate wells. *P < 0.05; and ***P < 0.001