Figure 1.

Requirement of Vα14 NKT cells in BCG-mediated IgE suppression. (A) FACS profiles of liver MNCs. The liver MNCs obtained 1 wk after the last immunization were stained with α-GalCer/CD1d tetramer and anti-TCRβ mAb. Three mice per each group were analyzed and representative data are shown. (B and C) Effects of BCG on antibody responses in WT and Vα14 NKT KO mice. Total and OVA-specific serum IgE (B), IgG1, and IgG2a (C) were assayed by ELISA. Five mice were used in each group. Values are expressed as mean ± SD. The asterisks (*) indicate that the amount of IgE was below the detection level for anti-OVA IgE (<31.2 U/ml), anti-OVA IgG1 (<0.002 U/ml), or anti-OVA IgG2a (<1.25 U/ml). N.S., not significant. All experiments were repeated three times with similar results.