Figure 2.

Cbl‐b expression is decreased in regulatory T cells (T_regs) from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and is associated with resistance to suppression. Cbl‐b protein expression was assessed in CD4⁺CD25⁺ T_reg lysates from SLE patients and healthy controls by Western blotting. A representative image of a Western blot for Cbl‐b from an active and a remitted SLE patient versus healthy control is shown (a), as well as the pooled data from 30 SLE patients and 30 age‐ and sex‐matched healthy controls normalized Cbl‐b protein expression (b). There was a positive correlation between percentage of CD4⁺CD25^– effector T cell proliferation suppression and Cbl‐b expression in T_regs from SLE patients (c). Ctl = healthy controls; AU = arbitrary units.