Figure 3.

TGF‐β does not inhibit IL‐7 receptor signaling in memory CD4⁺ T cells and enhances S6 phosphorylation in naive CD4⁺ T cells. PBMCs were incubated with rIL‐7 (5 ng/ml) in the presence or absence of rTGF‐β1 (5 ng/ml), rTGF‐β1 (5 ng/ml) alone, or medium alone. After 3 d, cells were analyzed by flow cytometry for p‐S6. (A) Cells incubated in medium alone were used to set quadrants. Expression of p‐STAT‐5 and p‐S6 in naive, CM, and EM CD4⁺ T cells is shown in each indicated condition 3 d after stimulation. (B) Summary data comparing p‐Akt and p‐S6 induction in T cell subsets 3 d after stimulation with rIL‐7 or with rIL‐7+rTGF‐β1. Significant difference between rIL‐7 in the presence or absence of rTGF‐β1 was assessed by Wilcoxon matched‐pairs signed rank test.