Figure 2

Treg cells induction of an alternative activated phenotype in monocytes/macrophages of moderate asthma children and controls. Monocytes were cultured without T cells (monocytes), with CD4⁺CD25^- T cells, or with CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells in the presence of anti-CD3 mAb (50 ng/ml). Moderate asthma = white bars; healthy controls = black bars. (A and B): The phenotype of monocytes was assessed after 40 h of culture by flow cytometry. The expression (average mean fluorescence intensity, MFI ± SEM) of CD206 and CD163 is shown for ten independent experiments, respectively. (C): The amount of CCL18 produced during the 40 h of co-culture was analyzed in the supernatant by ELISA. Significant differences were observed between moderate asthmatic children and control healthy children.