Fig. 1

Correlation of pathogen-specific T cells and antibodies in patients with acute PFP and healthy controls. A Representative dot plots of CD4 T cells of a 36-year-old healthy control are shown after stimulation with either control lysate (control), VZV-lysate (VZV) or polyclonal stimulus Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin B (SEB, positive control). Numbers indicate percentages of reactive CD4 T cells of total CD4 T cells and are characterized by co-expression of the activation marker CD69 and the cytokine IFNγ. In B percentages of VZV-, HSV-, borrelia-, CMV-specific and SEB-reactive CD4 T cells were compared between 23 controls (co, blue circles) and 55 patients with PFP (orange circles). C Percentages of pathogen-specific T cells in controls and PFP-patients were stratified according to the corresponding IgG-serostatus, whereas in D these percentages were correlated with corresponding IgG-levels (VZV, HSV, CMV). As determination of borrelia-specific antibodies relied on a two-step screening and confirmation system with semi-quantitative output, analysis of borrelia-specific IgGs was restricted to semi-quantitative analysis. In panel B and C median values are indicated for each group. There are no significant differences between controls and PFP-patients in panels B and C. Dotted lines in panel C and D represent detection limits for pathogen-specific CD4 T cells or IgG-levels. CMV, cytomegalovirus, HSV, herpes-simplex viruses; IFN, interferon; PFP, peripheral facial palsy; VZV, varicella-zoster virus