Fig. 2

Memory CCR6⁺CD4⁺ T cell subpopulations are increased in ACPA⁺ patients compared to matched ACPA⁻ patients. a Gating strategy for the identification of peripheral blood Th17, Th17.1, Th22 and CCR4/CXCR3 DP cell subpopulations. CCR6⁺ cells were gated on CD4⁺CD45RO⁺CD25⁻ T cells. b Real-time PCR expression analysis for IL-17, IFNγ, RORC and TBX21 in sorted Th1, Th17, Th17.1 and CCR4/CXCR3 DP CCR6⁺ Th cells obtained from patients with RA (8–10 patients per population). Prior to RNA isolation cells were stimulated with antiCD3/CD28 and cultured for 3 days. c-d Proportions of the indicated CD4⁺ T cell subpopulations within the total memory CD4⁺ T cell population (c) and memory CCR6⁺CD4⁺ T cell population (d) of 27 ACPA⁺ and 27 ACPA⁻ patients with RA. For statistical analysis Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-ranks test was performed (* = p < 0.05).