FIG 4.

VacSIM delivery produces a mixed Th1/Th2 type cellular response. Mice were immunized 4 weeks apart, and splenocytes were prepared from mice 2 weeks postboost. For rHBsAg-immunized mice, there are 10 mice per group and data were pooled from 2 independent experiments, whereas control groups (PBS- and VacSIM-immunized) had only 5 mice per group. Splenocytes were restimulated with 5 μg/ml rHBsAg, and levels of proinflammatory (IFN-γ and TNF-α) (A) and anti-inflammatory (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10) (B) cytokines were measured at 24, 48 or 72 h by ELISA. Statistical differences (*, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01; ***, P < 0.001; ****, P < 0.0001) were determined by two-way ANOVA with Bonferroni posttest.