Fig. 2

MIF concentration after 24 h whole blood stimulation of patients versus controls. Bars are boxplot with medians and interquartile ranges a after RPMI stimulation of WB of patients 19,459 pg/ml [IQR 15,880–26755] versus that of controls 16,182 pg/ml [IQR 13,334–23006], p = 0.031; b after LTA stimulation of WB of patients 12,461 pg/ml [IQR 10,649–16253] versus that of controls 9932 pg/ml [IQR 7718–12592], p = 0.009; c after S. pneumoniae 6303 stimulation of WB of patients 22,042 pg/ml [IQR 16,505–33155] versus that of controls 18,588 pg/ml [IQR 14,974–23099], p = 0.018; d after S. pneumoniae D39 stimulation of WB of patients 22,889 pg/ml [IQR 16,057–31820] versus that of controls 18,805 pg/ml [IQR 16,063–22865], p = 0.042. See Additional file 1: Figs. 2.1 and 2.2 for IL-6 and IL-10 concentrations after 24 h WB stimulation of patients versus controls (no significant differences)