Cytokine profile of human CD45RC CD8 T cell subsets.

(A) Representative example of the purification of CD45RC^high, CD45RC^int and CD45RC^low CD8 T cell subsets. Results are shown as histograms for CD45RC expression on CD8 T cells before (left histogram) and after CD45RC subsets purification (right histograms). The values within the histograms represent the percentage of CD45RC T cell subsets. (B) These sub-populations were stimulated in vitro with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 mAbs. The supernatants were collected at 96 h of culture and analyzed for the presence of cytokines using the CBA kit and Elisa. The results obtained in 12 healthy individuals are presented as box plot diagrams. The p-values were calculated using the Wilcoxon matched-pairs test; **, p<0.02. (C) For intracellular measurement of cytokines, purified CD8 CD45RC T cell subsets were stimulated and analyzed for intracytoplasmic cytokines as indicated in the legend of figure 4. The results are representative of three independent experiments.