Fig. 3

Dual-cytokine expressing CD4 + T cells are detected in a subset of polyJIA patients. A PBMCs were left unstimulated or stimulated overnight with PMA + calcimycin and CD3 + CD4 + T cells analyzed for cytokine production. Representative examples from an unstimulated sample and stimulated samples from a healthy pediatric control (PC) and a polyJIA patient (Pt 2), both treatment-naïve (TN) and post-treatment (PT), are shown. Percentages of CD3 + CD4 + T cells producing IL-17 or IFNγ or both are represented in the quadrants. B Samples were treated as in (A). Dual IL-17 and IFNγ expressing CD4 + T cells can be detected in a subset of treatment-naïve polyJIA patients, but not healthy pediatric controls (PC 0.04 ± 0.01% v TN 0.09 ± 0.02%, Mann–Whitney U test). C Paired analysis of patients’ treatment-naïve and post-treatment samples revealed that some of the outlying IL-17 expressing CD4 + T cells in post-treatment samples also co-express IFNγ (Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed rank test). Black bars represent mean ± SEM. PBMCs, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, PMA, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate; IL, interleukin; IFN, interferon