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. 2021 Jun 11;2(6):720–735.e4. doi: 10.1016/j.medj.2021.03.013

Figure 3.

Figure 3

Changes in cytokine production by lymphocytes during acute and convalescent COVID-19

(A–C) Graphs showing frequencies of CD4+ T cells that stain positive for (A) IL-10, (B) IL-17, and (C) IFNγ and TNF-α following 3-h stimulation with PMA and ionomycin in healthy individuals (n = 25–30), acute COVID-19 patients (n = 29–33), and convalescent COVID-19 patients with normal (n = 55–57) or abnormal chest X-ray findings (n = 25–26).

(D) Graphs showing frequencies of CD8+ T cells that stain positive for IFNγ and TNF-α following 3-h stimulation with PMA and ionomycin in healthy individuals (n = 28), acute COVID-19 patients (n = 24–31), and convalescent COVID-19 patients with normal (n = 54–57) or abnormal chest X-ray findings (n = 21–24).

(E and F) Graphs show frequencies of (E) CD4+ and (F) CD8+ T cells that stain positive for IFNγ and TNF-α following 3-h stimulation with PMA and ionomycin in convalescent COVID-19 patients who initially presented with mild (n = 13–14), moderate (n = 25–28), and severe (n = 34–41) disease.

(G and H) Graphs track frequencies of (G) CD4+ and (H) CD8+ T cells that stain positive for IFNγ and TNF-α in the same COVID-19 patient at acute (gray circles) and convalescent (maroon circles) time points (n = 14).

(I) Graphs showing frequencies of CD19+ B cells positive for IL-10, IL-6, and TNF-α following 48-h stimulation with CpGB in healthy individuals (n = 22–27), acute COVID-19 patients (n = 22–32), and convalescent COVID-19 patients with normal (n = 52–54) or abnormal chest X-ray findings (n = 24–27).

(J) Graphs track frequencies of CD19+ B cells that stain positive for IL-10, IL-6, and TNF-α in the same COVID-19 patient at acute (gray circles) and convalescent (maroon circles) time points (n = 11–14). Graphs show individual patient data, with the bar representing median values.

In all graphs, open triangles represent SARS-CoV-2 PCR− patients. ∗p < 0.05, ∗∗p < 0.01, ∗∗∗p < 0.001, 1-way ANOVA with Kruskal-Wallis test with Dunn’s post hoc testing for multiple comparisons, except for graphs showing CD4+TNF-α+ and CD8+IFNγ+ T cells in (E) and (F), where 1-way ANOVA with Holm-Sidak post hoc test was used, or Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed rank test (G, H, and J).

See also Figures S3 and S4.