Fig. 2.

Influence of cordycepin adjuvanted rabies vaccine on dendritic cells maturation in vitro. (a) Costimulatory molecule expression in BMDC was upregulated by cordycepin adjuvanted vaccine. A total of 1 × 10⁶ cells were collected and stimulated with PBS, vaccine (0.1 IU) (V) or vaccine adjuvanted with cordycepin (150 ng) (V + C) for 24 h. Cells were stained and analyzed by flow cytometry. (b) Cytokines produced by DCs after stimulation with vaccine or vaccine adjuvanted with cordycepin. DCs were stimulated with PBS, vaccine (V) or vaccine adjuvanted with cordycepin (V + C), cell culture supernatant was collected on indicated time and levels of IL-12 p70 and IL-6 were determined using ELISA methods. (c) CD4⁺T lymphocyte proliferation induced by cordycepin adjuvanted rabies vaccine pretreated DCs. DCs were stimulated with PBS, vaccine (V) or vaccine adjuvanted with cordycepin (V + C) for 24 h before co-cultured with CFSE-labeled CD4⁺T cells. After culture for 5 days, cells were collected and stained with PE anti-mouse CD4 and analyzed by flow cytometry. (d) Bar graphs of (a). (e) Bar graphs of (c). Results are presented as the mean ± S.D. ∗p < 0.05.