Figure 2.

Talaromyces marneffei yeast cells promoted Treg expansion and limited Th17 generation in the presence of DCs. CD4⁺ T lymphocytes were co-cultured with yeast cells of TM with or without DCs (CD4⁺ T lymphocytes: DCs: yeasts=10: 1: 5). The proportions of Treg and Th17 cells in the co-culture were detected by flow cytometry. (A) Gating strategy for Treg and Th17 cells. Treg cells were identified as CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺ cells and Th17 cells were identified as CD4⁺IL-17⁺ cells. Representative scatter plots of Treg and Th17 cells in the co-culture. Comparisons of the percentages of (B) Treg cells and (C) Th17 cells in the co-culture. Data are expressed as mean ± SD (n=10). *P < 0.05.

Abbreviations: DC, dendritic cell; TM, Talaromyces marneffei; CD, cluster differentiation; IL-17, interleukin 17; SD, standard deviation; NS, not significant.