FIG. 7.
Lack of bioactive IL-12p70 in cDC from chronically infected mice reflects the absence of IL-12/23p40 rather than IL-12p35 mRNA accumulation. Cytokine production by purified splenic CD11chi cell subsets from naïve mice and mice infected for different time periods (5 h or 28 days [d28]) were examined using ELISA to determine secreted IL-12p70 (A) and real-time RT-PCR methods (B and C). (A) cDC subsets were seeded at a concentration of 1 × 106/ml, and samples were collected after 24 h of culture to determine IL-12p70 levels. (B and C) For ex vivo cytokine mRNA expression, relative quantitation analysis of target genes was normalized against HPRT, and each DC subset was calibrated against its naïve counterpart. Data are shown as means plus standard errors of the means (error bars) for the five mice in each group. rE, relative expression; N.D., not detectable.