Fig. 1

Longitudinal analysis of T-cell subsets and cytokine concentrations in the peripheral blood of patients post-stroke. A Representative FACS plots showing the flow cytometric gating strategy used to identify T (CD3⁺), Th (CD3⁺CD4⁺) and Tc (CD3⁺CD8⁺) cells within the PBMC population, as well as Th1 (CXCR3⁺CCR6⁻), Th2 (CXCR3⁻CCR6⁻), Th17 (CXCR3⁻CCR6⁺) and Treg (CD25⁺CD127^low) cells within the Th cell population. B Frequency and distribution of Th cell subsets among CD4⁺ T cells in VRFC and AIS patients. Data are represented as percentages of total CD4⁺ T cells. The pie chart shows the mean relative proportions of different Th cell subsets within the CD4⁺ T cell population in VRFC and AIS patients. C Correlation plots of the baseline Th17 cell percentage with NIHSS score. D Th17/Treg ratio in VRFC and AIS patients and its correlation with NIHSS score (E). F IL-6 concentrations in VRFC and AIS patients. G Correlation plots of the baseline IL-6 concentration with NIHSS score. Data in B and D are presented as scatter plots showing mean with SD, while data in F are presented as scatter plots showing median with IQR. For correlations, the regression line and standard error are shown. Statistical comparisons between AIS and VRFC patients were performed via generalized linear models, adjusting for age, sex, smoking, drinking, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. Statistical comparisons between baseline and 7-day data among AIS patients were made using the Mann‒Whitney U test. Correlation analysis was conducted with Spearman’s rank correlation test. p values < 0.05 are considered statistically significant. ns indicates not significant or p ≥ 0.05; *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, and ***p < 0.001. Abbreviations: PBMC, peripheral blood mononuclear cell; Th cell, helper T cell; Tc cell, cytotoxic T cell; Treg cell, regulatory T cell; IL, interleukin