Fig. 5

Tofacitinib inhibits T cell activation. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy donors (n = 9) were pre-incubated with tofacitinib (100 or 600 nM) for 45 min before the addition of LPS or varicella zoster virus envelope glycoprotein (VZV gE) for another 23 h. An antibody against CD2/CD2R was used as a positive control. The cells were then stained with antibodies against CD69 and CD3 surface markers. A life/dead marker was included to analyse viable cells only. The cells were analysed via flow cytometry and the percentage of CD69⁺CD3⁺ cells was depicted for the positive controls and LPS; for VZV gE, the CD69⁺CD3⁺ cells were displayed as fold increase compared to the untreated control. Statistical significance was calculated using the Mann-Whitney test for the data displayed in percent while Wilcoxon matched pairs signed rank test was applied when fold inductions as displayed. Statistical significances are indicated as *P ≤ 0.05, **P ≤ 0.01, and ***P ≤ 0.001