Fig. 4

Antigen-specific cytokine production by DLNs in L. major infection in WT and TLR^−/− mice. WT, TLR2^−/− and TLR6^−/− mice were infected with L. major parasites and left to develop lesions for either 10 (a, b, c) or 18 weeks (d, e, f). For the long term experiment, TLR4^−/− mice were also included (d, e, f). At the end of the experiment, DLN were removed and the cells were re-stimulated for 72 h in vitro with the Leishmania antigen FTAg. The supernatants were collected and analysed for the presence of the cytokines IFNγ (a, d) and IL-10 (b, e) using ELISA. The quantities of cytokine produced in response to FTAg is shown for each individual, along with the median values. The ratio of IFNγ:IL-10 was also calculated for each individual and is displayed in c (week 10) and f (week 18). Groups were compared using a Mann-Whitney U test where P < 0.05 was considered to indicate significant (*) differences