Fig. 4

Ld-IL2 therapy synergized with MTX to expand the population of Tregs and ameliorate inflammation of RA. The proportion of Tregs in CD4+ T cells. Grey areas indicated the periods on Ld-IL2 or placebo therapy (a). The changes of the proportion of Tregs or Th17 in Ld-IL2 combined with MTX group and MTX alone group (b, c). The ratio of Tregs/Th17 (d). The serum levels of IL-17A, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-12 were decreased significantly at week 12 (e). Data in bar graphs were mean ± SE. Ld-IL2 low-dose interleukin-2, MTX methotrexate, Treg regulatory T cell. *P < 0.05