Fig. 3

IL21-AS1 is positively associated with IL-2 expression and activated Tfr cells. A The relative mRNA expression levels of IL21-AS1, IL2, and IL21 were analyzed in the isolated PBMCs of patients with SLE (n = 53). Correlation of IL21-AS1 level with IL2 and IL21 in patients with SLE. B, C PBMCs were isolated from the peripheral blood of patients with SLE (n = 29), and they were analyzed using flow cytometry without incubation and qPCR. B Gating strategy was employed to identify Tfh (CD4⁺CXCR5⁺Foxp3⁻), Tfr (CD4⁺CXCR5⁺Foxp3⁺), Tconv (CD4⁺CXCR5⁻Foxp3⁻), PD-1^hi Tfh (CD4⁺CXCR5⁺Foxp3^-PD-1^hi), Tph (CD4⁺CXCR5^-Foxp3⁻PD-1^hi), rTfr (CD4⁺CXCR5⁺CD45RA⁺Foxp3^lo), aTfr (CD4⁺CXCR5⁺CD45RA⁻Foxp3^hi), and ns-Tfr (CD4⁺CXCR5⁺CD45RA⁻Foxp3^lo) cells. C Correlation of IL21-AS1 level with the percentage of PD-1^hi Tfh cell, Tph cell, Tfr cell subsets, and aTfr/PD-1^hi Tfh ratio in patients with SLE (n = 29). Data symbols represent individual subjects; Spearman’s test was used for the correlation analysis between two variables of interest