Cross-reactive CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells obtained from Ad vector immunized mice proliferate in HCV antigens-dependent manner.

<p>Splenocytes obtained from Ad vector immunized mice were stimulated <i>ex vivo</i> with various recombinant HCV antigens (core, NS3, NS4 and NS5) or their selected respective peptides (at 5 μg/ml each), and analyzed by flow cytometry. Proliferation of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells stimulated <i>ex vivo</i> with: <b>(A)</b> HCV proteins; <b>(B)</b> Representative peptides derived from HCV proteins using the CFSE-based assay (loss of CFSE due to cell division represented by shift of peak of CFSE⁺ T cells towards left). Data are obtained from a pool (n = 5) of spleen cells and are representative of two independent experiments.