Figure 2. RSV abrogates tBreg generation.

To test effects of RSV on in vitro generation of tBregs, titrated doses of RSV (X-axis) were incubated from the beginning of tBreg generation. Controls were BAFF-treated B cells (B+BAFF) cultured with indicated doses of RSV. Y-axis shows expression of tBreg-like surface markers on B cells (%± SEM of CD81^HiCD25⁺ gated on CD19⁺ cells, A), or % ± SEM of proliferated (eFlour 670 diluted) CD4⁺ cells (B) and CD8⁺ (C) T cells, or % ± SEM of Treg conversion from non-Treg CD4⁺ T cells (FoxP3⁺ gated on CD4⁺ cells, D). In B–D, T cells were stimulated with 3 μg/ml anti-CD3 mAb for 5 days in the presence of tBregs and B cells from A. Dot plot in A and histograms (B–D) show representative flow cytometry data of the experiments shown in A–D. All data were reproduced 4 times in triplicate experiments. P-values are for comparisons of Mock vs RSV of the same type of cells.