IL-22 mRNA and IL-22-producing cells in PBMCs from relapsing and stable MS patients and from healthy controls (HC).

<p>Quantitative-PCR to measure IL-22 mRNA expression (A) <i>ex vivo</i> (Relapsing MS: n = 56, Stable MS: n = 16, HC: n = 37) and (B) after 4h of stimulation by PMA/ionomycin (Relapsing MS: n = 14, Stable MS: n = 10, HC: n = 12). (C) PBMCs were stained for IL-22, CD3 and CD4 after 4h stimulation by PMA/ionomycin in the presence of a protein transport inhibitor and analysed by flow cytometry (Relapsing MS: n = 15, Stable MS: n = 12, HC: n = 14). Scatter dot plot shows the percentage of IL-22⁺CD4⁺ T cells. The horizontal lines of scatter plots represent the median value in all subgroups. * and *** indicate respectively p-values ≤ 0.05 and ≤ 0.001.