Flow cytometric analysis of PBMCs showing that pDCs are responsible for the release of IFN-α and IL-10.

<p>PBMCs were infected with H1N1pdm09 MOI 0.1 for 48hrs with and without syncytin-1. The cells were then subjected to surface and intracellular cytokine staining and flow cytometry to determine cell populations and cytokine release. The pDC population was determined using CD3-/CD45+ cells which were also HLA-DR+ and CD123+ (A). This population was analysed for cytokine release using intracellular staining and the percentage of cells positive for IFN-α (B) and IL-10 (C) was calculated. Surface staining of pDCs for the activation markers HLA-DR and CD86 (D) was also measured. NPNV = Non-pregnant and non-vaccinated n = 2, ANOVA (Holm-Sidak) * <i>P</i> < 0.05.