Fig. 5.

Increased sensitivity of sarcoidosis Tregs towards CD95L-mediated apoptosis. Freshly isolated Tregs were analysed for apoptotic susceptibility towards soluble CD95L. a Representative flow cytometry analysis of an HC and SRC patient after 20 hours of culture with IL-2 only or with IL-2 and soluble CD95L. Numbers indicate percentage of CD25⁺FoxP3⁺ Tregs in culture. Induced apoptosis by CD95L was calculated, using the following formula: ((% CD25⁺FoxP3⁺ Tregs cultured with IL-2 - % CD25⁺FoxP3⁺ Tregs cultured with IL-2 and CD95L)/(% CD25⁺FoxP3⁺ Tregs cultured with IL-2))*100 %. b Percentage Tregs in culture of 9 HCs and 7 SRC patients after 20 hours. Paired data is shown of the Treg cultures without or with soluble CD95L. c Percentage CD95L-induced apoptosis in HC and SRC Tregs. Statistics: Horizontal lines indicate the median. Significance was determined using a Mann–Whitney U test (c) or Wilcoxon matched pairs test (b), *p < 0.05 **p < 0.01. CD95L CD95 ligand, HC healthy control, SRC sarcoidosis