Figure 8.

Arginase and iNOS activity in immunized and control groups. Eight weeks after challenge with L. major^EGFP, mice were sacrificed and splenocytes (1 × 10⁶ cells/mL) were re-stimulated with SLA^L.major. To measure arginase activity, the cultured cells were collected after 48 h. In addition, to evaluate the nitrite concentration the supernatant of the culture was used. (A) Arginase activity was significantly lower in the ILL+CpG group in comparison to controls. (B) There was no significant difference between nitrite concentration in the studied groups. (C) The nitrite concentration/Arginase activity ratio showed immune protective responses. The ratio was significantly higher in the ILL+CpG group than in other groups. n = 4 per group. The means were compared with a Mann–Whitney U-test and significant differences are shown with asterisks (*P ≤ 0.05). Data are shown as mean ± SD. I.L.L (Iranian Lizard Leishmania), ILL+CpG (Iranian Leishmania Lizard+CpG).