Fig. 5.

T cell proliferation and IFN-γ production is induced by protamine–RNA-stimulated DCs. DCs were cultured with medium alone or IL-3, R848, or protamine–RNA complexes (pR) formed in 0, 25, or 50 mM NaCl. CFSE-labeled allogenic PBLs or T cells were added after overnight culture. a The dilution of CFSE-labeled PBLs was measured on CD3⁺CD11c⁻BDCA2⁻ cells by flow cytometry on day 5. Cultured, unstimulated PBLs were used as reference. The mean percentage proliferating cells ± SEM of 6 CD1c⁺ DC and pDC donors is depicted. b The expression of IFN-γ and IL-10 in day 2 DC:PBL co-cultures was measured with ELISA. Mean concentration ± SEM from 5 to 6 CD1c⁺ DC and pDC donors is depicted. c, d Intracellular IFN-γ was measured in CD3⁺CD11c⁻BDCA2⁻ T cells cultured for 5 days either alone or with DCs stimulated with medium or IL-3, R848, or pR complexes. Results are depicted as the mean percentage IFN-γ⁺ cells ± SEM from 6 CD1c⁺ DC and pDC donors (c) or as a representative figure (d). Wilcoxon matched-pair signed-rank tests were performed between indicated groups and are indicated by *(p < 0.05), **(p < 0.05), or NS (non-significant)