Mitigated suppressive function of regulatory T cells (Treg) upon Th17-inducing cytokines in oligo- and polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) patients

Table 2 Comparison of Th17- and regulatory T cells-specific markers in peripheral CD4⁺ helper T cells

Gate	Subpopulation	JIA	HC	p-value
CD4⁺	CCR6⁺	8.01 ± 4.35 (7.25; 1.40–16.60)	1.80 ± 0.90 (1.60; 0.90–3.20)	0.011
CD4⁺	CD161⁺	7.06 ± 4.70 (6.30; 1.00–14.40)	1.98 ± 1.19 (2.70; 0.40–2.90)	0.011
CD4⁺	CCR6⁺ CD161⁺	0.85 ± 0.60 (0.70; 0.20–1.80)	0.08 ± 0.08 (0.10; 0.00–0.20)	0.002*
CD4⁺	RORγt⁺	0.58 ± 0.43 (0.45; 0.30–1.60)	1.06 ± 0.53 (1.00; 0.50–1.70)	0.045
CD4⁺	IL-17⁺	1.10 ± 0.79 (0.80; 0.50–2.90)	0.24 ± 0.09 (0.30; 0.10–0.30)	0.002*
CD4⁺RORγt⁺	IL-17⁺	7.48 ± 3.74 (7.30; 2.20–13.10)	2.54 ± 2.46 (1.00; 0.60–6.00)	0.019
CD4⁺	FoxP3⁺	3.59 ± 1.82 (3.25; 1.70–6.50)	2.26 ± 1.01 (2.30; 1.10–3.30)	0.171
CD4⁺FoxP3⁺	IL-17⁺	3.10 ± 1.43 (2.85; 1.20–5.60)	0.62 ± 0.23 (0.60; 0.40–1.00)	0.002*
CD4⁺FoxP3⁺	CD25⁺ CD127⁻	24.94 ± 10.79 (24.45; 8.30–41.20)	24.00 ± 4.83 (22.40; 18.50–30.80)	1.000

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were assessed for Th17- and regulatory T cells (Treg)-characteristic markers by flow cytometry. Values of 5 healthy controls (HC) and 8 patients with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) were compared with Mann–Whitney-U-test. Data are presented as percentages in mean ± standard deviation (median; minimum—maximum). After correction for multiple comparison with Bonferroni correction the results marked with * remained statistically significant. Elevated proportions of Th17/Th1 switching cells as well as CD4⁺ and CD4⁺ FoxP3⁺ cells producing IL-17 were assessed in JIA patients compared to HC

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