Fig. 2.

The percentage of CD4⁺CD25⁺CD127⁻ cells is increased in whole blood of septic patients in comparison with healthy individuals. EDTA-anticoagulated blood was harvested from 17 healthy individuals (HI, open boxes and circles) and 30 septic shock patients (SS, gray boxes and circles). Cells were stained using 3-color flow cytometry staining (CD4-ECD–CD25-PC5–CD127-PE). Red blood cells were lysed using automated TQ-Prep lysing system. Absolute count measurements were performed using Flow-count fluorospheres™. Results are presented as individual values and box-plots with 5th/95th percentiles. Non-parametric Mann Whitney U test was used for comparison between groups (*P < 0.05, **P < 0.001). a Percentage of CD4⁺CD25⁺CD127⁻ lymphocytes measured among CD4⁺ cells. b Absolute count of peripheral CD4⁺ T lymphocytes (cells/µl of whole blood). c Absolute count of peripheral CD4⁺CD25⁺CD127⁻ T lymphocytes (cells/µl of whole blood). d Absolute count of peripheral CD4⁺CD25⁻CD127⁺ T lymphocytes (cells/µl of whole blood)