Figure 6

Blockade of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway increases anti-virus immune responses. Upregulations of IL-2 (A) and IFN-γ (B) expressions by the blockade of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway using anti-PD-L1 antibody (α-PD-L1). The cytokine expression in cultivated PBMC (n = 8; PL: 5 EBL: 3) and CD4⁺ or CD8⁺ cell-depleted PBMC (n = 4; PL: 4) were determined using quantitative real-time PCR. The results are indicated as relative change to control (no antibody treated). Each line indicates the mean expression level in each group. Statistical comparisons between Isotype Control and α-PD-L1 were made using the Wilcoxon matched pairs test and those between PBMC and T cell-depleted PBMC were made using the one-way ANOVA with the Tukey's post test. Differences between groups were considered statistically significant at probability values of P < 0.05 (* P < 0.05; ** P < 0.01).