T Cell Vaccination Inhibits Th1/Th17/Tfh Frequencies and Production of Autoantibodies in Collagen-Induced Arthritis
Figure 3
TCV influenced the frequency of Tfh cells and IL-21 in CIA mice. The three groups of mice were sacrificed at the peak of the disease. DLN MNCs were harvested, stained with antibodies for CD4, CXCR5, and ICOS, and analyzed by flow cytometry. (a)-(b) Flow cytometry results showed the percentage of Tfh cells in DLN CD4+ cells. (c) Results showed the absolute number of Th1/Th17 cells in DLN. (d) Heart blood was collected and the serum was isolated by centrifuge. Spleen MNCs were prepared and incubated (5 × 105 cells/well) in the absence and presence of heat-inactivated CII (20 μg/mL) for 48 h and the supernatants were collected. The levels of IL-21 were determined using ELISA. Concentration of IL-21 in sera (left) and supernatants of cell culture (right). Data are represented as means ± SD ( mice/group). Data are representative of 5 separate experiments with similar results. *, **, CIA versus normal group. #, TCV versus normal group. , TCV versus CIA group.
