Figure 4
From: TNF-α and TGF-β Counter-Regulate PD-L1 Expression on Monocytes in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Monocytes produce TNF-α to induce expression of PD-L1.
(A) TNF-α was assayed in supernatants from isolated CD14+ monocytes cultured overnight without stimulation. Horizontal lines represent mean values. (B) PD-L1 protein levels on monocytes in the same culture was assayed by flow cytometry; TNF-α positively correlated with PD-L1 expression on monocytes in SLE patients in remission. (C) TGF-β protein levels in monocyte supernatants. (D) Correlation between TGF-β and PD-L1 protein levels on monocytes. Cytokine levels between healthy controls and SLE patient groups were compared using the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test. Correlations were determined by the Spearman's rank correlation test.
