The Combination of MBP and BCG-Induced Dendritic Cell Maturation through TLR2/TLR4 Promotes Th1 Activation In Vitro and Vivo

Figure 2

The combination of MBP and BCG upregulates CD80, CD86, and MHC class II expression on the surface of DCs and increased the production of IL-12 protein. Splenic DCs from normal mice (1 × 10⁶ cells/mL) were cultured with MBP, BCG, or the combination of MBP and BCG for 48 h and were analyzed using flow cytometry. DCs collected from the different groups were stained with the following antibodies: FITC-conjugated anti-CD80 (a), PE-conjugated anti-CD86 (b), and APC-conjugated anti-MHC class II (c). The percentage of positive cells is shown in a flow cytometry histogram. The percentage of CD11c⁺ cells expressing each surface molecule is expressed as the mean ± standard deviation and is shown in a bar graph (d–f). ELISA was used to detect the level of IL-12 protein in supernatant of DCs isolated from different types of mice (WT mice, TLR2^−/− mice, or TLR4^−/− mice) treatment with the combination of MBP and BCG (g). Data were derived from three independent experiments. is considered to indicate statistically significant differences, compared with control group or with WT DC group.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)

(g)