Figure 3.

T cell phenotype and senescence/exhaustion markers in MDD

(A–D) PBMCs from patients with MDD and matched HC were examined by flow cytometry. CD4⁺ (upper panel) and CD8⁺ T cell subpopulations (lower panel) were analyzed for the expression of markers classifying differentiation (CD45RA, CCR7; n = 25) (A), chemokine receptors (CXCR3, CCR6, CCR4; n = 25) or regulatory T cell markers (CD25, CD127; n = 22) (B), markers indicative of exhaustion or senescence (PD-1, KLRG1, CD57; n = 19–20) (C) or inhibitory receptors (CTLA-4, LAG-3, Tim-3; n = 20) (D). Naive/Memory subpopulations were defined as T_Naive (CCR7⁺/CD45RA⁺), T_EM (CCR7⁻/CD45RA⁻), T_CM (CCR7⁺/CD45RA⁻), and T_EMRA (CCR7⁻/CD45RA⁺). T helper cell subsets were defined as Th1 (CXCR3⁺/CCR6⁻), Th2 (CXCR3⁻/CCR6⁻/CCR4⁺), Th17 (CXCR3⁻/CCR6⁺/CCR4⁺), and Th1/Th17 cells (CXCR3⁺/CCR6⁺) (n = 25). For the analysis of inhibitory receptors, PBMCs were stimulated with 10 μg/mL of α-CD3 and 1 μg/mL α-CD28 for 48 h. Median and interquartile ranges are shown. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare groups. All p values > 0.1 if not otherwise indicated.