<p>There was a significant difference of lymphocyte proliferation between PAEP-rich 624.38-Mel shControl group and PAEP-poor 624.38-Mel shPAEP group at concentrations of 1 μg/ml PAEP (A) and 2 μg/ml PAEP (B), indicating that proliferation of PBLs was significantly inhibited by PAEP (* P < 0.05, Student’s <i>t</i>-test). The early and late phase apoptosis of PBLs co-cultured with PAEP-rich 624.38-Mel shControl supernatant (equivalent to 1 μg/ml PAEP protein) for 36 h (C) was significantly increased compared with PBLs co-cultured with shPAEP supernatant (F). Similar results were obtained with purified CD8<sup>+</sup> or CD4<sup>+</sup> T cells (D vs. G, E vs. H). Results are presented from one representative experiment. The same experiment was repeated at least three times.</p
