FIG 6.

T-cell subset responding to pooled RV-A and -C peptides, defined by the activated T cells and proliferative capacity. A representative sample of 3 donors who were previously positive for individual immunodominant peptides is shown. The assay was conducted using RV-A34 and RV-C3 immunodominant peptides combined into two pools (15 μM per peptide; 5 peptides per pool). The bars represent means ± standard errors of the mean (SEM). (A) T-cell activation of CD4⁺ versus CD8⁺ subsets, given by CD4⁺HLA-DR⁺ and CD8⁺HLA-DR⁺. (B) Proliferation of T-cell subsets, given by CellTrace^dim. The pool of the irrelevant peptide antigen PhoMal was used as a control for nonspecific proliferation. The mean SI of the proliferating CD4⁺ subset, stimulated with the RV-A and RV-C pool, was 2 times higher than that of the corresponding CD8⁺ subset, although it was not statistically significant. No statistically significant differences were found within and between CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ subpopulations.