Figure 3

Association of cytokine ratios with outcomes of experimental cerebral malaria. (A) For each genotype (B6, Tlr7^-/-, Tlr9^-/-, Tlr7^-/-Tlr9^-/-, and Myd88^-/-) a Pearson’s product moment correlation was used to determine the relationship between the average log₁₀ (plasma cytokine concentration + 1) and the log₁₀ fraction of each genotype that escaped cerebral malaria (survived until day 12). r² values were calculated from a linear regression of the above. (B) As above, except using ratios of cytokines. A less stringent statistical threshold (α = 0.1) was tested to account for the propagation of error when calculating ratios. Light blue, p < 0.05; dark blue, p < 0.1 (Pearson’s correlation). (C) Significant log₁₀ plasma cytokine ratios from (B) as a function of average survival for each genotype. The linear regression across genotypes is shown with 95% confidence intervals. (D) Significant cytokine ratios from (B) by genotype. Errors represent SE and all statistical comparisons are to B6 mice. *, p < 0.05 (Mann–Whitney). (E) Box plots of significantly correlated, log₁₀ cytokine ratios for all mice, grouped by escape from cerebral malaria (survival past day 12). *, p < 0.05 (Mann–Whitney).