Fig. 4

Effects of B cell activating factor (BAFF) on the apoptosis of CD8⁺ 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 CD8⁺ cells was analyzed by flow cytometry. The representative data of apoptosis of CD8⁺ cells from a COPD patient that were treated with control (a), rhBAFF (b) or rhBAFF plus BR3-Fc (c) are shown. The apoptosis of CD8⁺ cells from COPD patients (n = 13) treated with control, rhBAFF or rhBAFF plus BR3-Fc is shown (d). Data are presented relative to the control which is set at 100%. *P < 0.05. NS, nonsignificant