Fig. 9

Results of CTLA-4 mRNA level and the correlation between CTLA-4 and B7-1 in spleen of immunosuppressed rats (n = 3–5 per each group). A immunofluorescence results, a–f Pearson correlation scatterplot; B CTLA-4 IOD results; C CTLA-4 mRNA level; D B7-1 mRNA level; E CTLA- and B7-1 colocalization results. Data are expressed as means ± SD, One-way ANOVA tests with LSD-t post-hoc tests executed and Pearson correlation coefficient, Kruskal–Wallis one-way ANOVA test. ^*p < 0.05, ^**p < 0.01, ^***p < 0.001 vs NG; ^##p < 0.01, ^###p < 0.001 vs CTX; ^%%%p < 0.001 vs HPM. IOD: integrated optical density; SD: standard deviation; ANOVA: analysis of variance; LSD-t: Least Significant Difference-t, NG: normal group; CTX: cyclophosphamide; HPM: Herbpartitioned moxibustion; aCD28: anti-CD28; aCTLA-4: anti-CTLA-4; LEV: Levamisole