Fig. 3
Kv1.3 channel blockade decreases the production of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. (a) Heat map representation of cytokines levels in CD4+ TEM cells supernatants. Cells were stimulated for 24 h with plate-bound OKT3 in the presence or absence of Vm24 or ShK (1 nM) toxins and supernatants were collected and analyzed with a multiplex assay. All conditions were normalized to the unstimulated (US) control, and the relative abundance (fold change) of each cytokine is indicated by a gradient of color from blue (low abundance) to red (high abundance). The heat map was generated with the data from three independent donors using the Manhattan distance metric and hierarchical clustering based on average linkage. To identify cytokines modified upon TCR engagement, pairwise comparison between the unstimulated and the OKT3-treated group was performed. Proteins that show at least 1.5-fold change and significant difference (p < 0.05) are identified in the heat map with stars (*p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001). (b) Cytokines that showed increased levels following OKT3 stimulation (Fig. 3a) are plotted. Fold change of OKT3, OKT3 + Vm24 and OKT3 + ShK groups normalized to the unstimulated control are shown. The dotted line indicates the protein levels in the supernatants of unstimulated cells. Data from three independent donors are plotted, and significance of pairwise comparisons between the OKT3 and the OKT3 + Vm24 group are indicated with stars (*p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001)