Fig 2: GZMA expressing CD8+ CTLs represent the most prominent T cell population in SS. (a) Representative multicolor immunofluorescence images showing CD4 (red), CD8 (green), Granzyme A (GZMA)(purple) and DAPI (blue) staining in pSS. White arrows indicate CD8+GZMA+ cells that have infiltrated the labial gland. (b) Left panel shows absolute numbers of CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells in pSS (n = 10). Right panel shows % of GZMA+ in CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells in pSS (n = 10). Paired t test used to calculate p-value. (c) Absolute numbers of each T cell subset (n = 13) and CD8+GZMA+ T cell (n = 10) in pSS. Error bars represent mean ± SEM. ****p < 0.0001.

Fig 3: The most prominent CD4+ T cell subsets in SS tissues are Th1 cells and Tfh cells. (a) Representative multi-color immunofluorescence image of CD3 (red), CD19 (green) and DAPI (blue) staining in a pSS lesion (patient number 2). (b) Absolute numbers of CD3+ T cells, CD19+ B cells in pSS (n = 10). Paired t test used to calculate p-value. (c) Representative multi-color staining showing each CD4+ T cell subset. [Th1: CD4+ (red) T-bet+ (light blue)] [Th2: CD4+ (red) GATA3+ (yellow)] [Th17: CD4+ (red) ROR?+ (white)] [Tfh: CD4+ (red) CXCR5+ (green)] [Treg: CD4+ (red) Foxp3+ (orange)] [CD4+ CTLs: CD4+ (red) GZMA+ (green)] (d) Relative proportions of Th1, Th2, Th17, Tfh, Treg and CD4+ CTL subsets in tissues from pSS (n = 13), secondary SS (n = 7) and IgG4-RD patients (n = 6). Error bars represent mean ± SEM. *p < 0.05.