To determine the cytokines secreted by the stimulated splenocytes or PBMC, cells were cultured at a concentration of 5610 5 cells/well in 96-wells flat-bottomed plates (Corning Incorporated, Corning, NY, USA). The supernatant was collected after 48 hrs and 72 hrs stimulation and analyzed with Cytometric Beads Array flex kits (BD Biosciences, San Jose, CA, USA) containing IL-1ß, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-13, IFN-c and TNF-a for mouse and IL-10, IFN-c and TNF-a for human samples. Data were acquired and analyzed using BD FACS Array Bioanalyser and FlowJo 7.6 software.