Fig. 2

PrtA immunization induced effector T cell responses. At 3 weeks after immunization, mouse splenocytes were stimulated with (a) PMA and ionomycin for 6 h or (b) PrtA for 48 h before T cell subsets were examined by flow cytometry. The Th1 (IFN-γ⁺CD4⁺), Th2 (IL-4⁺CD4⁺), and Th17 (IL-17A⁺CD4⁺) ratios relative to the total CD4⁺ T cells were compared between the PrtA1/curdlan groups and the curdlan control group (n ≥ 4). **p < 0.01, Student’s t-test. c IL-17A and IFN-γ production levels after PrtA stimulation in vitro were compared between the immunization groups and the adjuvant control group (n = 4). *p < 0.05, Mann–Whitney test. d IL-4 and IL-13 production levels were detected after anti-CD3 (0.1 μg/mL) and anti-CD28 (0.2 μg/mL) antibody activation for 24 h (n = 5)