Expression of IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-10 by RA CD4+ T cells.

<p>CD4+ T cells were isolated from the peripheral blood of healthy controls (HCPB) (n = 33), the peripheral blood of early RA patients (eRAPB) (n = 33) and the synovial fluid of established RA patients (RASF) (n = 20), and stimulated with PMA/Ionomycin for 16 h or with anti-CD3/CD28/CD49d for 4 days. A, B. Percentage of CD4+ T cells expressing IFN-γ (Th1 cells) after a 16 h stimulation, as determined by flow cytometry. Because the CD4 molecule is downregulated upon stimulation with PMA, shown is CD3 expression on CD4+ T cells. C. Secretion of IFN-γ by CD4+ T cells stimulated for 16 h with PMA/ionomycin or for 4 days with anti-CD3/CD28/CD49d. D. Secretion of TNF-α and of IL-10 by CD4+ T cells stimulated for 16 h with PMA/ionomycin. Box-plots represent the median and interquartile range of all studied subjects, whiskers represent the maximum and minimum values. *p<0.05 vs HCPB; † p<0.05 vs eRAPB.