Increased plasma levels of IL-27 in active pemphigus and MG patients.

<p>Plasma samples of pemphigus (Pem) patients (n = 12) categorized as active and remittent (rem), MG patients (n = 12) and HC (n = 12) were tested for different cytokines by ELISA. <b>(A)</b> Both active Pem and MG patients had significantly increased plasma concentrations of IL-27. <b>(B)</b> The plasma levels of IL-6 were not increased in active Pem while <b>(C)</b> TNF-α was statistically increased in active pemphigus. Differences between the groups were analyzed using Mann-Whitney-U-Test with <i>p</i> values indicated as *<i>p</i><0.05.</p

Correlation of plasma cytokine levels in patients with active pemphigus and MG.

<p>Correlation of plasma cytokine levels in patients with active pemphigus and MG.</p

Elevated Tfh cells in pemphigus patients.

<p><b>(A)</b> cTfh cells (defined as CD4⁺CXCR5⁺ T cells) were analyzed by flow cytometry in patients with pemphigus (Pem; n = 10), MG (n = 12) and HC (n = 12). (<b>A</b>) The frequency of cTfh cells was significantly increased in Pem patients while altered PD-1 (<b>B</b>) or ICOS (<b>C</b>) expression on cTfh cells could not be observed. Pem patients are categorized as remittent (open symbols) and active (filled symbols). Differences between the groups were analyzed using Mann-Whitney-U-Test with <i>p</i> values indicated as *<i>p</i><0.05.</p

Elevated IL-21 plasma levels and increased IL-17-producing T cells in pemphigus.

<p>Patients with pemphigus (Pem; n = 10), MG (n = 12) and HC (n = 12) were analysed for IL-21 and IL-17 (<b>A</b>) Active Pem patients as well as MG patients displayed significantly increased plasma concentrations of IL-21. (<b>B</b>) An increasing frequency of IL-17-producing T cells could be obersevd in Pem patients while (<b>C</b>) IL-17/IL-21 double positive T cells and (<b>D</b>) IL-21 single positive T cells showed no statistical difference compared to HC. (<b>E</b>) Pem patients showed increased numbers of autoreactive IL-21-producing T cells by ELISpot assay. PBMC were used for flow cytometry analysis of the intracellular produced cytokines upon stimulation with PMA and ionomycin. Pem patients are categorized as remittent (open symbols) and active (filled symbols). Differences between the groups were analyzed using Mann-Whitney-U-Test with <i>p</i> values indicated as *<i>p</i><0.05, **<i>p</i>0.01 and ***<i>p</i>0.001.</p