Fig. 3

Stability of pathogen-specific T cell characteristics within 14 days after clinical presentation. Pathogen-specific T cell responses in 36 PFP-patients (orange circles) were analyzed at the beginning of symptoms and two weeks thereafter. In parallel, blood samples of 15 controls (blue circles) were additionally analyzed two weeks after the first sample recruitment. A Percentages of pathogen-specific and SEB-reactive CD4 T cells above detection limit were compared at both time points. B CTLA-4 expression as well as C CD27- and D Ki67-positivity of pathogen-specific T cells was compared at onset of symptoms. To ensure robust statistics, analysis of samples with positive pathogen-specific T cell frequencies in panel B, C and D was restricted to samples with at least 20 antigen-specific CD4 T cells. CMV, cytomegalovirus, HSV, herpes-simplex viruses; IFN, interferon; PFP; peripheral facial palsy; VZV, varicella-zoster virus