CD56^bright NK cells express reduced levels of the IL-12Rβ1 chain but increased levels of phosphorylated STAT4 after injury.

<p>PBMC were isolated from “patients 2” 24 h before (d-1) and 1 d (d+1) after injury. PBMC were stained against CD3, CD56, and IL-12Rβ1. CD3^-CD56^{<b>bright</b>} NK cells were gated as shown in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0130155#pone.0130155.g002" target="_blank">Fig 2A</a>. <b>(A)</b> Representative dot plot of IL-12Rβ1 expression on gated CD56^{<b>bright</b>} NK cells. Numbers indicate the percentage of IL-12Rβ1^<b>+</b> cells. <b>(B)</b> Cumulative data on the percentage of IL-12Rβ1^<b>+</b> cells among CD56^{<b>bright</b>} NK cells before and after injury (n = 20). <b>(C, D)</b> PBMC isolated before (d-1) and 1 d (d+1) after injury were cultured in the absence (med) or presence of <i>S</i>. <i>aureus</i>. Cells were stained against CD3, CD56, and intracellular phosphorylated STAT4 (pSTAT4). <b>(C)</b> Representative histogram of pSTAT4 staining in CD56^{<b>bright</b>} NK cells analyzed before injury. <b>(D)</b> Cumulative data on the percentage of pSTAT4-expressing (pSTAT4^<b>+</b>) cells in gated CD3^-CD56^{<b>bright</b>} NK cells (n = 6). Results are expressed as scatter plot (median, interquartile range) or as box plot (median, interquartile range, range). Statistical differences were tested using the Wilcoxon signed rank test (B) or the Friedman test (D). **, p<0.01; ##, p<0.01. iso, isotype control antibodies.