Fig. 4.

T_H17 cells have increased proliferative capacity. (A to C) T_H17 cells had potent expansion capacity. Primary (A and B) and polarized T_H subsets (C) were stimulated with TCR for 3 (A and C) or 14 (B) days. Cell proliferation/expansion was detected by [³H]thymidine incorporation (A), CFSE dilution (B), or increased cell numbers (C). n = 3. *P < 0.05. (D and E) Cytokines stimulated T_H17 expansion. Primary HLA-A2⁺ T_H17 and HLA-A2⁻IL-17⁻ control T cells were separately cultured (D) or initially mixed and cocultured (E) for 3 days with IL-7 plus IL-15. The absolute cell numbers (D) or the percentage (E) of T_H17 cells was determined by flow cytometry. n = 3. *P < 0.05. (F) T_H17 cells were in S phase. NSG mice received T_H17 or control cells and BrdU. Cell cycling phase was analyzed on day 5 by flow cytometry to determine BrdU⁺ human T cells in mouse spleen. n = 2. (G) T_H17 cells expressed increased Ki67 expression in blood and colon cancer. Eight to 10 donors. P < 0.05, T_H17 as compared with T_H1/T_H0. (H to K) T_H17 cells expressed different amounts of cell cycling genes. Expression of multiple cyclin genes (H and I) and CDK inhibitors (J and K) was quantified in primary (H and J) and polarized T_H17 cells (I and K). n = 8. *P < 0.05.