Abnormal Expression Pattern of the IL-2 Receptor β-Chain on CD4⁺ T Cells in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis

Figure 3

The expression of the IL-2 receptor 𝛽-chain is diminished on CD25⁺ CD4⁺ T cells. (a) CD25 (IL-2r 𝛼-chain) expression is significantly elevated on CD4⁺ T cells of AAV patients in remission as compared to HC (CD4⁺  T cells: %CD25⁺  36 ± 16% versus 20±9%, 𝑃<0.005). Patients with active disease were not significantly different from HC or patients in remission. (b), (c), and (d) CD122 expression is not altered on total CD4⁺  T cells and there is no difference in terms of CD122 expression on CD25^neg  CD4⁺  T cells comparing AAV patients and HC. CD122 expression is significantly reduced on CD25⁺  CD4⁺  T cells comparing AAV in remission and HC (CD25⁺  CD4⁺  T cells: %CD122⁺  48±14% versus 62±9%, 𝑃=0.002). Patients with active disease showed a tendency towards a lower expression of CD122 on CD25⁺  CD4⁺  T cells as compared to HC (46±16% versus 62±9%, 𝑃=0.06). Horizontal bar indicates the mean value. **𝑃 value < 0.005.

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