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Fig. 3 | Journal of Translational Medicine

Fig. 3

From: Levels of hepatic Th17 cells and regulatory T cells upregulated by hepatic stellate cells in advanced HBV-related liver fibrosis

Fig. 3

HSC increased the levels of Th17 cells and Tregs via the PGE2/EP2 and EP4 pathway. a, e Purified CD4+ T cells were cultured alone or with 30% indicated supernatants with or without NS398 or with 0.1 µM PGE2, Butaprost or Misoprostol. After 5 days, the percentage of Th17 cells and Tregs was analysed by flow cytometry. The values in the quadrants represent the percentages of Th17 cells and Tregs. The data shown are representative dot plots from more than three independent experiments. b, f The statistical analysis of the percentages of Th17 cells and Tregs in cultured purified CD4+ T cells with LX-2 supernatant or pretreated with NS398. c, g The statistical analysis of the percentages of Th17 cells and Tregs in cultured purified CD4+ T cells with pHSC supernatant or pretreated with NS398. d, h The statistical analysis of the percentages of Th17 cells and Tregs in cultured purified CD4+ T cells with PGE2, Butaprost or Misoprostol. Supernatant from LX-2 and pHSC significantly increased the percentage of Th17 cells and Tregs, and when with pretreated with NS398, the percentages of Th17 cells and Tregs declined significantly. PGE2, and its receptor agonists Butaprost and Misoprostol increased significantly the percentages of Th17 cells and Tregs. (NS398 indicates LX-2 supernatant pretreated with NS398; NS398# indicates pHSC supernatant pretreated with NS398). *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001

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