Fig. 3

Effector function of TIGIT+CD226+ CD4 T cells was altered in patients with DM. a The functional comparisons between DM and healthy controls showed that expression of HLA-DR, the percentage of proliferating cells, and TNF-α production potential of TIGIT+CD226+ subset in DM were significantly higher than that of healthy controls. b In DM patients with ILD, the expression of HLA-DR, the percentage of proliferating cells, and cytokine production potential of TIGIT+CD226+ CD4 T cells were increased compared to in DM patients without ILD. c Representative FACS plots of different groups. Data are shown as the mean ± SD. Comparisons between two groups were carried out using unpaired two-tailed t tests. Bar graphs showed summary of 5 independent experiments with total 5 DM with ILD, 5 DM without ILD, and 5 HCs. Samples from all groups were included in each run. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001