Figure 5.

Effects of estradiol on splenocyte proliferation and cytokine ELISPOT responses to H5N1 infection. Estradiol- and placebo-implanted female mice were infected with H5N1 as described above. Splenocytes harvested at 7 weeks post infection were stimulated in vitro with H5 recombinant HA (rHA), PMA/ionomycin (PMA/IM) mixture or R848/mIL-2 mixture. (A) Splenocyte proliferation, and (B) IgG, (C) IL-4 and (D) IFN-γ secreting cells measured by ELISPOT. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM (n = 3 mice/group) and are representative of 2–3 repeated experiments with similar results. *p < 0.05 and **p < 0.01 by unpaired Student’s t-test.