Figure 3

Rituximab effect on the suppressive function of T regulatory (T_REG) cells in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. CD4+CD25+ T cells were isolated and then mixed or not with autologous CD4+CD25- lymphocytes in the presence of phytohemagglutinin, and cultured for 72 hours. Then, cell proliferation was determined by ³H-methyl-thymidine incorporation. These assays were performed before (day 0), and at days 30 and 90 of Rituximab therapy, as described in Materials and methods. All experiments were run in triplicate, and the results expressed as the percent of cell proliferation (CD4+CD25- lymphocytes cultured without CD4+CD25+ cells = 100%). * p < 0.05