Effect of HspX and ESAT-6 on BCG-induced cytokine secretion by DCs.

<p>Monocytes were treated (5 days) with 50 ng/ml GM-CSF and 20 ng/ml IL-4 to obtain immature DCs, that were subsequently cultured (24 hrs) in the absence (CTRL) or presence of 50 µg/ml BCG, alone or combined with 10 µg/ml HspX and/or 10 µg/ml ESAT-6. DCs were also cultured with 50 µg/ml Mtb as a positive control. Release of the indicated cytokines in culture supernatants was evaluated by ELISA. Results are expressed as the mean value+SD of seven independent experiments. Statistical analysis: DCs treated with BCG alone vs BCG plus HspX and ESAT-6 added alone or in combination; ns P>0.05, *P<0.05, **P<0.01, ***P<0.001.