Circulating CD4 T cells secreting IL-10 <i>ex vivo</i>, alone or with IL-17, include FOXP3^- cells and FOXP3⁺ Helios^- pTreg.

Abstract

<p><i>Ex vivo</i>–isolated CD4⁺ T cells were stimulated with PMA/ionomycin, stained with anti-CD45RA, -IL-10, -IL-17, -FOXP3, and -Helios mAbs and analyzed by flow cytometry. (A) Dot plots depicting FOXP3 expressing cells within cytokine secreting populations are shown for one donor. The proportion of FOXP3 expressing cells within each cytokine secreting populations and their mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) are summarized for all donors (<i>n</i> = 8). (B) The proportions of cells co-secreting IL-2 or IFN-γ within the indicated populations are summarized for all donors (<i>n</i> = 4). (C) The proportions of Helios expressing cells within FOXP3⁺ Treg in the indicated populations are summarized for all donors (<i>n</i> = 8). Statistical analyses were performed using the Mann—Whitney <i>U</i> test. *<i>p</i> < 0.05, **<i>p</i> < 0.01, *** <i>p</i> < 0.001, ns, Non-significant.</p