Figure 7

Blockade of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway decreases virus load and proportion of BLV-gp51⁺cells. Downregulations of provirus load in PBMC (A: n = 8; PL: 5 EBL: 3) and proportions of BLV-gp51⁺ cells in PBMC and T cell-depleted PBMC (B: n = 6; PL: 6) by the blockade of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway using anti-PD-L1 antibody (α-PD-L1). The provirus loads in cultivated PBMC were determined using quantitative real-time PCR. The proportions of BLV-gp51⁺ cells were determined using flow cytometry. 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).