Fig 2. GITR activation has no significant impact on parasite growth in spleen samples and antigen-specific IFN-γ production in whole blood from VL patients.
A. Spleen cells were cultured in the presence of agonistic anti-GITR mAb or control IgG1, as indicated, before counting the number of viable amastigotes present after 3 days by limiting dilution in blood agar plates (n = 15). B. Antigen-specific IFN-γ production was measured in whole blood cell cultures after 24 hours of stimulation with agonistic anti-GITR mAb or control IgG1, as indicated (n = 19). C. Antigen-specific IFN-γ production was measured in whole blood cell cultures after 24 hours of stimulation with a blocking anti-IL-10 mAb, with or without agonistic anti-GITR mAb, and compared with samples treated with control IgG1, as indicated (n = 19). Box and whisker plots show the box extending from the 25th to 75th percentiles with the line in the middle of the box representing the median and whiskers going down to the smallest value and up to the largest. Statistical differences of p < 0.05 (*) and p < 0.001 (***) are indicated.