Figure 2

PTEN regulates reciprocal Th17/Treg balance in CIA.

PTEN overexpression enhances Treg cells and decreases p-STAT3 expression in the CD4⁺ T cells in CIA mice. (A) The populations of IFN-γ, IL-17 and Foxp3 producing CD4⁺ T cells were analyzed by intracellular flow cytometric analysis. (B) T cell activity of LBRM transfected by PTEN or mock vector was assessed by T cell proliferative respond assay. (C) Spleens of CIA mice were subjected to immunostaining for CD4⁺IL-17 or CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺ cells. (Original magnification, 40×) (D) Spleens of CIA mice were subjected to confocal staining for CD4⁺pSTAT3y705⁺ or CD4⁺pSTAT3s727⁺ cells (original magnification, 40×). The number of cells was counted in four independent quadrants. Data are presented as mean ± SD of three independent experiments (*P < 0.05, ***P < 0.01, n = 6).