Fig. 7. Involvement of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T-cell subtypes in the IFN-γ and nitrite secretion.

a Quantification of IFN-γ production levels in T cell supernatants of the ChimeraT/saponin-immunized mice and challenged with L. infantum. Cells were stimulated with ChimeraT or SLA (10 and 50 µg/mL, respectively) in the absence (medium, control) or presence of anti-CD4⁺, anti-CD8⁺ or anti-IL-12 monoclonal antibodies for 48 h at 37 °C with 5% (v/v) CO₂. b Nitrite secretion levels in the culture supernatants of all infected and vaccinated mice, evaluated in vitro by the Griess method. The bars indicate the mean and the error bars denote the standard deviation of the groups. In a (*) indicates statistically significant difference compared with no antibody treatment (P < 0.0001). In b (*) indicates statistically significant difference compared with the control saline and saponin groups (P < 0.0001). 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.