Fig. 2.

Th17 cells are resistant to apoptosis in the absence of IL2Rγ-chain cytokines. a Gating strategy for apoptosis assays. b, c Apoptosis of Th17 cells (TRP-1), unpolarized CD4⁺ T cells (TRP-1), Tc17 cells (pmel-1), or unpolarized CD8⁺ T cells (pmel-1) was measured after culture with IL-2, IL-7, IL-15, or vehicle. Panel b shows representative samples from day 2. Panel c shows mean plus standard error of three independent experiments for the days indicated. d, e Antibody-mediated depletion of IL2Rγ-chain cytokines does not induce apoptosis of Th17 (TRP-1) cells over 2 day culture. Triangles represent independent experiments. p > .05 for all depletion conditions vs control by two-tailed t test. f Expression of Bcl-2 protein is greater in Th17 cells (dashed line) than in unpolarized CD8⁺ cells (solid line). Gray histogram is FMO control. Representative of two independent experiments