Figure 5

BB-Cl-amidine modulates the cytokine profile of T helper cell subsets, but not Tregs in the lymph nodes of arthritic mice.

(a–d) Arthritic mice were culled on day 10 and the therapeutic effect of BB-CL-amidine on CD4⁺ T cells in lymph nodes was determined by flow cytometry (n = 7). BB-Cl-amidine decreases the frequency of (a) IFN-γ and (b) IL-17A producing cells whereas (c) IL-4 producing cells are increased. One representative FACS plot for each cell type is shown. Numbers in plots indicate the percent of cytokine secreting cells gated on live CD4⁺ T cells. RORγT, retinoic acid receptor-related orphan nuclear receptor gamma. (d) BB-Cl-amidine treatment does not alter the number of Tregs in the lymph nodes of mice with CIA. The percentage of CD25⁺ FoxP3⁺ cells among CD4⁺ T cells as well as the total number of Tregs in the lymph nodes is shown. One representative dot plot is shown. Numbers in plots indicate the percent of CD25⁺ FoxP3⁺ cells among live CD4⁺ T cells. (a–d) Error bars represent ± SEM. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Dunnett’s multiple comparisons test relative to vehicle-treated animals. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001; ****P < 0.0001; ns, not significant.