Figure 2.

Cytokine production by PBMCs from ASD/SPAD, normal control, ASD/non-SPAD and non-ASD/SPAD children when stimulated by mitogens (PHA or Con A) (Panel A) or candida Ag (Panels B and C). PBMCs (10⁶ cells/ml) were incubated with T cell stimulants (PHA, Con A, and candida Ag) for 4 days and cytokine levels in the culture supernatant were measured by ELISA. Secondary to high production of TGF-ß without a stimulus, the production of TGF-ß is expressed as stimulation index (ratio of TGF-ß produced with candida Ag/background TGF-ß produced without a stimulus). *; lower than all the study groups (p < 0.05).