Figure 3From: Increased frequency of Th17 cells in systemic sclerosis is related to disease activity and collagen overproductionExpansion of Th17 cells in PBMCs of patients with active SSc. (A) Human PBMCs were labeled with antibody against lymphocytes (anti-CD3 and -CD8). IL-17-expressing cells were detected by intracellular cytokine staining assay, and the percentage of IL-17+ cells among CD3+CD8- T cells was determined with flow cytometry. (B) Results of flow-cytometric analysis of Th17 cells in patients with active SSc (n = 13), patients with stable SSc (n = 32), and controls (n = 24). (C) Longitudinal monitoring of Th17 cells in 10 patients. The percentage of Th17 cells was measured initially during active SSc and again after resolution after treatment. (D) Real-time RT-PCR analysis of IL-17, Foxp3, and RORγt mRNA expression in freshly isolated PBMCs of patients with active SSc (n = 13), patients with stable SSc (n = 32), and controls (n = 24). (E) Positive correlation between the proportion of Th17 cells and clinical severity in active SSc patients, scored by using the Valentini score (n = 13). r = 0.675, P < 0.01. (F) Results of flow cytometric analysis of CD4+CD25+CD127- Treg cells in patients with active SSc (n = 13), patients with stable SSc (n = 32), and controls (n = 24).Back to article page