Figure 5
Comparison of different T cell subsets in SLE patients categorized based on organ impairment, and correlation analysis of Th22 and Th17 cells with different clinical parameters of SLE patients with either sole lupus skin disease or sole LN. The percentage of circulating CCR6+ T cells (panel A), Th22 (panel B), Th17 (panel C) and Th1 (panel D) were analyzed in healthy control and SLE patients from different groups. SK group represented SLE patients with sole renal impairment (n = 13); SS group included SLE patients with sole skin impairment (n = 20); KS group represented SLE patients with both kidney and skin impairment (n = 18), and NKS group represented SLE patients with no renal and skin impairment (n = 16). Differences between groups were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA followed by Dunn-Bonferroni post hoc method. The percentage of circulating Th22 and Th17 cells were analyzed for their correlation with various clinical parameters, using Spearman’s rank correlation test. Panels (E–H) represented correlation of Th22 cells with DAI (disease area index), SI (severity index), IgG levels, C3 protein, respectively in SLE patients with sole lupus skin disease. Panel (I) represented Th22 cells correlation with ESR level, while panel (J,K) represented Th17 cells correlation with urinary protein and cast levels, respectively in SLE patients with sole LN. P values < 0.05 represented statistical significance.
