Fig. 3. Cytokine production in human PBMC from visceral leishmaniasis patients and healthy subjects.

To evaluate specific IFN-γ and IL-10 production in the culture supernatant from VL patients before and after treatment (n = 10) and healthy subjects (n = 10), PBMC (10⁷ cells per mL) were stimulated with ChimeraT or with PHB, EIF5a, LiHyp1 or LiHyp2 synthetic peptides (a) or the corresponding source recombinant proteins and SLA (b). Control cells were maintained in medium alone. Cell supernatants were collected and IFN-γ and IL-10 production was measured by capture ELISA. The bars indicate the mean and the error bars denote the standard deviation of the groups. (*) indicates statistically significant differences compared to values obtained from cells stimulated with the individual peptides or recombinant proteins (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, and P < 0.001 respectively; see text). (+) indicates statistically significant differences compared to values obtained from cells stimulated with ChimeraT and individual proteins (P < 0.001, P < 0.01, and P < 0.01 respectively; see text). Statistics were done using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by Bonferroni´s post-test, which was used for multiple comparisons, and P values < 0.05 were considered significant.