CD4⁺ T Cell Profile and Activation Response in Sickle Cell Disease Patients with Osteonecrosis

Figure 3

Increased frequency of IL4⁺CD4⁺ T cells and bifunctional IFN-γ⁺/ IL4⁺ and IL-17⁺/ IL4⁺CD4⁺ T cells in SCD and SCD/ON compared to healthy controls. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy donors (control), steady-state SCD, and SCD with osteonecrosis (SCD/ON) patients were culture stimulated with PMA/Io and stained for intracellular cytokine production. Representative dot plots illustrate intracellular staining for IFN-γ⁺/IL-4⁺ (a) and IL-4⁺/IL-17⁺ (b) in TCD4⁺ cells after stimulation. Relative frequency of IFN-γ⁺ (c), IL-4⁺ (d), IL-17⁺ (e), bifunctional IFN-γ⁺/IL-4⁺ (f), and IL-4⁺/IL-17⁺ TCD4⁺ (g) cells producing cytokines in relation to total TCD4⁺ cells in culture. Each symbol represents an individual subject. Horizontal lines represent mean and standard error. , , and .

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