Fig. 7. B cells regulate Th17/Th22 differentiation in humans.

Naive T cells sorted from the PBMCs of healthy donors were co-cultured with B cells (prestimulation with α-IgM and α-CD40 for 2 days) for 5 days. a CD4⁺IL-17⁺ cells were analyzed by flow cytometry (left). The results for flow cytometry of CD4⁺IL-17⁺ cells (right). b IL-17 in supernatants was analyzed by ELISA. c CD4⁺RORγt⁺ cells were analyzed by flow cytometry (left). The results for flow cytometry of CD4⁺RORγt⁺ cells (right). d CD4⁺IL-22⁺ cells were analyzed by flow cytometry (left). The results for flow cytometry of CD4⁺IL-22⁺ cells (right). e IL-22 in supernatants was analyzed by ELISA. f CD4⁺c-Maf⁺ cells were analyzed by flow cytometry (left). The results for flow cytometry of CD4⁺c-Maf ⁺ cells (right). g B cells were cultured with α-IgM and α-CD40 or vehicle control for 2 days. CD19⁺TNF-α⁺ cells were analyzed by flow cytometry (left). The results for flow cytometry of CD19⁺TNF-α⁺ cells (right). h TNF-α in the supernatants was analyzed by ELISA. i Naive T cells were co-cultured with B cells (prestimulation with α-IgM and α-CD40 for 2 days) under Th17 culture condition for 24 h, then mTOR phosphorylation in CD4⁺ T cells was detected by flow cytometry. Results shown are representative of three independent experiments. *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001.