Figure 3.
IL-6-KO mice show deficient priming for specific IFN-γ production and increased IL-4 secretion during a primary vaccination. C57Bl/6 (control) and IL-6-KO mice (five per group) were injected in the hind footpads with ST-CF in DDA (immune [I]). A group of C57Bl/6 animals was also injected with PBS in DDA (non-immune [NI]). Popliteal and inguinal lymph nodes were collected five days later and pooled lymph node cells were cultured in vitro with (shaded bars) or without (open bars) the antigen (ST-CF). The number of IFN-γ (a) and IL-4 (b) secreting cells was then determined by the ELISPOT. The detection limit for the IFN-γ ELISPOT was 10 and for the IL-4 ELISPOT 12 in 2 × 105 cells. Data were compared using Student's t-test, and significant differences as compared to immune wild-type mice are labelled *(for P < 0·05), **(for P < 0·01).