Distinct cytokine expression patterns of ZnT8 specific CD4⁺ T cells between T1D patients and healthy adults.

<p>PBMCs from 15 T1D patients and 15 age/gender/HLA-matched controls were cultured with ZnT8 single peptides for 7 days in the presence of IL-2 (day 2–7). ICS assay was performed after 6 h re-stimulation with the same peptides. Gated to CD4⁺ T cells. (<b>A</b>) Representative results of cytokine expressions by CD4⁺ T cells specific for ZnT8 single peptides in T1D patients and controls. (<b>B, C</b>) Cytokine expression patterns of ZnT8-specific CD4⁺ T cells. 24 from 60 control PBMC cultures (15 subjects×4 peptides) and 22 from 60 T1D PBMC cultures, which contained CD4⁺ T cells expressing any of three cytokines at a frequency of >0.5%, were used for the analysis. Statistical significance between control group and T1D group was tested by Student’s <i>t</i>-test. (<b>D</b>) Composition of ZnT8-specific CD4⁺ T cells with distinct cytokine-expression pattern in T1D patients and controls.