Table 3

Percentages of CCR4⁺/6⁺ Th and Treg cells in appropriate cell subsets

CCR4⁺/CCR6⁺ Th/Th

CCR4⁺/CCR6⁺ Th/T

CCR4⁺/CCR6⁺ Th/L

Treg/Th

Treg/T

Treg/L

Fox-P3⁺/CD4⁺CD25⁺

ASp

9.81 ± 0.62

7.69 ± 0.63

4.24 ± 0.56

2.82 ± 0.24

2.12 ± 0.23

1.23 ± 0.13

22.23 ± 5.13

HD1

5.51 ± 0.59

3.53 ± 0.56

2.24 ± 0.48

5.27 ± 0.28

4.13 ± 0.26

2.54 ± 0.15

32.54 ± 7.05

HD2

5.34 ± 0.52

3.33 ± 0.45

2.17 ± 0.37

5.31 ± 0.23

4.21 ± 0.19

2.64 ± 0.18

34.92 ± 6.71

Data presented as the percentage mean ± standard deviation. The differences for all percentages between patients with ankylosing spondylitis (ASp) and either HLA-B27-negative healthy donors (HD1) or HLA-B27-positive healthy donors (HD2) were significant (P < 0.001, according to a two-tailed significant level of 0.05). There were no significant differences between HD1 and HD2 (P > 0.05). Th, CD4⁺ T-helper cells; T, T lymphocytes; L, lymphocytes; Treg, forkhead box P3-positive regulatory T cells.

Wu et al. Arthritis Research & Therapy 2011 13:R29   doi:10.1186/ar3257