Fig. 2.

The correlation between leptin and T helper type 17 (Th17) cells in Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) patients. (a) The percentages of CD3⁺CD8⁻ Th17 cells were analysed by flow cytometry, representative flow cytometry plots of Th17 cells. (b) Collective analysis of results from HT patients and control groups. Results are expressed as mean ± standard deviation, n = 12, Student's unpaired t-test. (c,d) Correlation between plasma leptin concentrations and the percentage of Th17 cells or the level of retinoic acid-related orphan receptor γt (RORγt) in HT patients. (e,f) Correlation between CD4⁺ T cell-derived leptin concentrations and the percentage of Th17 cells or the level of RORγt in HT patients.