Figure 7
Sex differences in the capacity of T cells to produce Th1, Th2 and Th17 signature cytokines in CII-stimulated cell cultures. Cultured cells were obtained from lymph nodes draining inflamed joints and nearby tissues (dLNs) recovered at the peak of clinical severity of CIA. (a) Scatter plots indicate the concentration of IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-17 in 72-hour dLN cell cultures from male and female rats without CII (medium) or with CII (CII). Two-way ANOVA (sex x culturing condition) showed: a significant interaction between factors (F(1,28) = 13.04, p < 0.01) and a significant main effects of sex (F(1,28) = 27.84, p < 0.001) and culturing conditions (F(1,28) = 59.91, p < 0.001) for IFN-γ; a significant main effect of culturing conditions (F(1,28) = 49.34, p < 0.001) for IL-4; and a significant main effects of sex (F(1,28) = 9.06, p < 0.01) and culturing conditions (F(1,28) = 80.86, p < 0.001) for IL-17. (b) Scatter plot shows IFN-γ/IL-4 concentration ratio in 72-hour dLN cell cultures with CII from male and female rats. Data are presented as means ± SEM. Horizontal lines within scatter plots indicate mean values. n = 8 rats per group. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001.
