<i>Ov</i>ALT-2 suppresses OVA-specific OT-II T cell proliferation <i>in</i><i>vitro.</i>

<p>Spleen cells were isolated from OT-II mice and labeled with CFSE. Cells were stimulated with 50 ng/mL OVA_323-339 peptide in the presence of nematode-derived proteins <i>Ov</i>103, <i>Ov</i>ALT-2 or <i>Ov</i>7 in increasing concentrations as indicated on the x-axis. After 72 h cells were stained with anti-CD4 mAb and proliferation of CD4⁺CFSE⁺ T cells was analyzed by flow cytometry as percentage of dividing T cells (marker M1). Shown is a representative dot blot of OT-II spleen cells after incubation with 7.5 µg/mL <i>Ov</i>103 (A) or <i>Ov</i>ALT-2 (B) in the presence of OVA-peptide. C) Graph shows percentage of dividing T cells in the presence of indicated concentration of ESP. Data are presented as the mean of combined results derived from two independent experiments, error bars show SEM. Asterisks indicate significant differences in the mean of <i>Ov</i>103 to <i>Ov</i>7 or <i>Ov</i>ALT-2, respectively (** p < 0.01; *** p < 0.001).