Th9 cells increased in tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE).

<p>(A) Th9 cells within CD4⁺ T cells were identified based on their expression of CD3 and not of CD8. The representative flow cytometric dot-plots of Th9, Th1, Th2 cells, Th17, and Tregs in TPE and blood are shown. (B) Comparisons of percentages of Th9, Th1, Th2 cells, Th17, and Tregs in TPE and blood (n = 14). Horizontal bars indicate means. The percentages of Th cells represented Th cell numbers in total CD4⁺ T cell numbers as determined by flow cytometry, comparison was made using a Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The percentages of Th cells were determined by flow cytometry, comparison was made using a Wilcoxon signed-rank test. (C) Th9 cells correlated negatively with Th1, Th2 cells, Th17, and Tregs in TPE (n = 14). Correlations were determined by Spearman rank correlation coefficients.