Figure 4.

DCs stimulated with the 30-kDa and 38-kDa Mtb antigens lead to a Th2 shift in vitro. DCs were stimulated with the different Mtb antigens or LPS or left untreated and simultaneously loaded with the superantigen SEB. After washing the DCs were co-cultured with autologous T cells for 7 days. Then T cells were restimulated for 3 days by PMA/Ionomycin to induce cytokine release. Cytokines were measured by ELISA. Error bars represent the pooled mean data from 4 independent experiments. The IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio was calculated from 4 experiments and the pooled ratios are shown. Statistical significance was tested using one-way ANOVA test with Bonferroni’s post test. * = p < 0.05.