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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2016 Apr 1.
Published in final edited form as: Lupus. 2015 Apr;24(0):351–363. doi: 10.1177/0961203314556139

Figure 2. T cells differentiation and cytokines aberration in SLE patients.

Figure 2

The cytokines produced by macrophages, antigen-presenting cells (APC), B cells, neutrophils and activated T cells, along with the decreased IL-2, influence the development of naïve CD4+ T cells in SLE patients. These alterations favor the development of Th17, TCRab+CD4-CD8 double negative (DN) and T follicular helper (TFH) T cells, whilst inhibiting regulatory T cells (TREG) differentiation. Collectively, these abnormalities enhance B cell maturation and differentiation, antibody production and immune complex formation, and also promote organ damage. Arrows indicate increased/decreased cytokines or cell subset in SLE compared to control.