High Risk First Degree Relatives of Type 1 Diabetics: An Association with Increases in CXCR3⁺ T Memory Cells Reflecting an Enhanced Activity of Th1 Autoimmune Response

Figure 3

The level of CXCR3⁺CD4⁺CD45RO⁺ T cells in the peripheral blood of first degree relatives (FDRs) at high risk (hr FDRs) and low risk (lr FDRs) for development of type 1 diabetes, patients with recent-onset type 1 diabetes in insulin requiring state (RT1D- IRS), and healthy controls. Expression of CXC chemokine receptor 3 (CXCR3) chemokine receptors on CD4⁺ cells was determined by flow cytometry and shown in box-plots. Horizontal lines represent the median; the box comprises the 25th and 75th percentiles and the error bars comprise the 10th and 90th percentiles. Outliers are indicated. Receptor levels are expressed as percentage chemokine receptor-positive cells of CD4⁺CD45RO⁺ T cells. Comparison among hr FDRs, lr FDRs, patients with RT1D-IRS, and healthy controls (ANOVA test).