Fig. 3

Effects of B cell activating factor (BAFF) on the apoptosis of CD4⁺ cells from COPD patients. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from COPD patients were treated with recombinant human BAFF (rhBAFF) or rhBAFF plus BR3-Fc (BAFF antagonist) and the apoptosis of CD4⁺ cells was analyzed by flow cytometry. The gating strategy for identifying CD4⁺ cells and CD8⁺ cells is shown (a and b). The representative data of apoptosis of CD4⁺ cells from a COPD patient that were treated with control (c), rhBAFF (d) or rhBAFF plus BR3-Fc (e) are shown. The apoptosis of CD4⁺ cells from COPD patients (n = 13) treated with control, rhBAFF or rhBAFF plus BR3-Fc is shown (f). Data are presented relative to the control which is set at 100%. NS, nonsignificant