Phenotype of Foxp3^hi and Foxp3^int CD4⁺CD25^hi T cells induced by malaria-infected RBCs.

<p>After 8 days of iRBC∶PBMC co-culture, immuno magnetic selection was used to isolate CD4⁺CD25^hi (black line) and CD25⁻ cells (grey filled). CD25 and Foxp3 expression in the two sorted populations was analysed by flow cytometry (A). mRNA levels for Foxp3, TGFβ1 and IL-10 were normalized on 18SrRNA levels for each donor. Data from 8 donors (Mean+/−SEM) are shown, presented as relative mRNA levels normalized on mRNA levels in CD4⁺CD25⁻ T cells for each donor (A). PBMC of 3 donors were phenotyped on day 0 prior to iRBC-PBMC co-culture set up, and after 6 days of iRBC∶PBMC co-culture (2∶1 ratio). Dot plots show the gating strategies for Foxp3 expressing cells on day 0 and day 6, respectively (B). Representative histograms depicting isotype control staining (grey filled) and specific staining for various surface markers on CD25⁻Foxp3⁻ and CD25^hi Foxp3-expressing CD4 T cells (black line) from each respective culture are shown (B).