Fig. 4

Foxp3 expression in peripheral blood CD4⁺ T cells detected by flow cytometry. a In the first week after transplantation, Foxp3 expression in the peripheral blood CD4⁺ T cells rose to 5.38% in the smDC group, as compared with 1.11% in the PBS group. Foxp3 expression in the peripheral blood CD4+ T cells also rose to 3.87% in the regDC group and was higher than that in the control group. b In the fourth week after transplantation, Foxp3 expression in peripheral blood CD4⁺ T cells of each group reduced. c Peripheral blood CD4⁺ T cells cultured with smDCs, regDCs, imDCs, and mDCs or PBS in vitro for 24 h, respectively. Number of CD4⁺CD25⁺FoxP3⁺ T cells detected and quantified. **P < 0.01 compared with control group. imDC immature dendritic cell, mDC mature dendritic cell, regDC regulatory dendritic cell, PBS phosphate-buffered saline, smDC semimature dendritic cell