Figure 4. Effects of tofacitinib on lupus mice with regard to anti-double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid antibody, interferon gamma, interleukin-6, splenic regulatory T cells, and messenger ribonucleic acid expression of relevant genes downstream of Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription pathway. (a) Compared with PC, T, MP, and T+MP presented a significantly lower serum concentration of anti-dsDNA antibody, IFN-g, and IL-6. (b) Compared with PC, T, MP, and T+MP presented a significantly lower percentage of splenic CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg cells and splenic Foxp3 mRNA expression. (c) Compared with PC, expression levels of 12 relevant genes downstream of the JAK-STAT pathway in T, MP, and T+MP were shown. Positive values represent higher levels than those in PC, and vice versa. CD: Cluster of differentiation; dsDNA: Double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid; Foxp3: Forkhead box P3; HE: Hematoxylin-eosin; IFN-g: Interferon gamma; JAK-STAT: Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription; IL: Interleukin; MP: Methylprednisolone; mRNA: Messenger ribonucleic acid; ns: Not significant; PAS: Periodic acid-Schiff; PC: Pristane control; SC: Saline control; T: Tofacitinib; T+MP: Tofacitinib plus methylprednisolone; Treg: Regulatory T cells; * p<0.05; ** p<0.01; *** p<0.001.
