Fig. 5.

TLR-7 and TLR-9 ligands are equally efficient to stimulate ivD-pDC and to induce NK cell lysis of ALL. We compared the efficacy of TLR-9 (CpG ODN 2216) and TLR-7 (Imiquimod) ligands for the induction of NK cell lytic functions. a Cytotoxic assays against REH cells were performed as above with NK cells either unstimulated (unst.) or co-cultured with ivD-pDC or PB-pDC stimulated with TLR-9 or TLR-7 ligand. Mean of specific lysis with SD is presented (n = 3 independent experiments). b NK cell activation status was assessed by immunostaining and flow cytometry analysis (TRAIL and CD69 markers). c IFN-γ production by NK cells was assessed by ELISA in the supernatants of NK/pDC co-cultures in which pDC were stimulated with TLR-9 or TLR-7 ligand. The means of 3 independent experiments are presented with SD. d IFN-α production by activated pDC was assessed by ELISA in the culture supernatant of pDC stimulated with TLR-9 or TLR-7 ligand. The mean of 3 independent experiments is presented with SD. Statistical analyses were performed by using one-way analysis of variance. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001