FIG 6.

rhEPO stimulates expansion of Tregs and increases CTLA-4 expression by splenocytes. Absolute numbers (left) and proportion (right; representative dot plots) of Tregs (CD4⁺ CD25⁺ Foxp3⁺) in the spleens (A) and mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of CTLA-4 (B) on Tregs were quantified by flow cytometry. For each experiment, three mice were used per group. Each experiment was repeated three times. The values represent the means and SEM. * and **, significant differences compared with baseline levels on day 0 at P values of <0.05 and <0.01, respectively. #, significant difference between P. berghei ANKA and P. berghei ANKA-plus-EPO groups (P < 0.05).