Figure 5.

CD4⁺, but not CD8⁺, T cells are the principal source of cytokines in cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) lesions and are responsible for the killing of parasites. (a) The frequency of lesional CD4⁺ T cells (open bars) and CD8⁺ T cells (closed bars) expressing IFN-γ and IL-10 or coexpressing these cytokines, after restimulation in vitro with L. braziliensis. (b) Parasite load in infected macrophages (open bar) and in coculture of infected macrophages with peripheral CD8⁺ or CD4⁺ T cells (closed bars) in the absence or presence of anti-IFN-γ. *P<0.05; **P<0.01; ***P<0.001. Statistical comparisons were done using the Mann–Whitney U-test or the Friedman test, followed by the Dunn's multiple comparison test.