Cytokine secretion profile of DCs after <i>L. donovani</i> infection.

<p>Monocytes were cultured in RPMI medium or RLEC-CM with the indicated cytokine combinations. On day 5, DCs were harvested and recultured (5×10⁵ cells/mL) for 2 days with IFNγ (1000 IU/mL) plus LPS (1 µg/mL). <b>A. </b><i>L. donovani</i> infection was carried out at a ratio of 10∶1 (parasites:DCs). Secretion of IL-10 and IL-12p70 was measured in the culture supernatant by ELISA after 48 h. Results are expressed as the mean ± SD of at least three experiments. When indicated, the mean value was statistically significant compared to non infected DCs (*, <i>p</i><0.05; **, <i>p</i><0.01). <b>B.</b> Infection was carried out with CFSE-labelled parasites or excreted-secreted antigens (ESA) from <i>L. donovani</i>. Intracellular staining of IL-12 was evaluated by flow cytometry analysis. Percentage of IL-12 positive-cells among the whole cell population or among infected cells (CFSE+) and non infected cells (CFSE-) is indicated on the cytograms.