Figure 3

Mean percentage of PBMC from different groups expressing IL-10 ex vivo and following 16 hour incubation with HCV proteins. (a) The percentage of IL-10 producing cells (mean ± SE) was assessed by intracellular flow cytometry in freshly isolated PBMC and following 16 hour incubation with HCV proteins. Black bars represent fresh PBMC, dark grey bars represent PBMC incubated for 16 hours with recombinant HCV core, NS3 and NS4 and lighter grey bars represent the same PBMC incubated for 16 hours with β-galactosidase control protein. Statistical comparisons are made within groups using the Mann-Whitney U test and between groups using the Kruskal-Wallis test. (b) Representative flow plots of IL-10 production in PBMC from an HIV/HCV-coinfected individual after incubation of PBMC with individual HCV proteins at 2.5 μg/mL. Numbers represent the percentage of IL-10 positive PBMC.