Fig. 3

Lung protein levels of IFN-γ, CCL-4 and IL-1β are lowered in Tat-vaccinated, Mtb-infected mice. Left lungs of Mtb-infected (a-e) or uninfected (f) mice treated as reported in Fig. 1 were homogenized and then assayed for detection of the indicated cytokine/chemokine by commercial ELISA kits. In plots A-E, the dotted line represent the mean protein levels of the specific cytokine/chemokine detected in lung homogenate of untreated Mtb-free mice. All data are expressed as mean of 6 or 5 individual mice/group ± SE. Statistical analysis was done by one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s multiple comparisons post-test *, P < 0.05, **, P < 0.01, ***, P < 0.001, differences respect to untreated Mtb-infected group (a-e) or to untreated Mtb-free group (f). In panel F, the differences between BCG Tat-treated group versus both BCG and BCG buffer groups are indicated