Figure 6

IFN-α modulates antigen-induced cytokine production from splenocytes and lymph node cells ex vivo . Spleens and draining lymph nodes were collected from mice at days 0, 14, 21, and 28 during the course of AIA. Single-cell suspensions were prepared and were restimulated with 50 μg/ml of mBSA for 48 hours. The supernatant of the culture was analyzed for different cytokines with Luminex (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, IL-17, IFN-γ, and TNF) and ELISA (TGF-β). The data are expressed as mean pg/ml ± SEM (n ≥ 6) in (A) splenocytes and (B) lymph node cells (n ≥ 6). From each value, the background cytokine levels found in culture media (including fetal bovine serum) were subtracted. The black line and the blue line represent groups receiving 0 U and 1,000 U of IFN-α, respectively, at the time of mBSA immunizations. Mann–Whitney U test was performed to compare cytokine levels between the two groups (*P < 0.05; **P < 0.01).