Fig. 6

Fucoidan enhances immunosuppressive properties in Treg cells. qRT-PCR analysis of TGF-β and IL-10 in liver tissues (a, b) and RAW264.7 cells (c, d). The mRNA level of each gene was normalized to GAPDH mRNA levels in each sample. Results are presented using the 2^-ΔΔCq method. e Gating strategy for CCR4⁺, CXCR5⁺, PD-1⁺, ICOS⁺ and KLRG1⁺ Treg cells. Frequencies of CCR4⁺ (f), CXCR5⁺ (g), PD-1⁺ (h), ICOS⁺ (i) and KLRG1⁺ (j) Treg cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. All flow cytometry results were analyzed and plotted using Fluorescence Minus One controls (FMO). Data are expressed as the mean ± SD for each group (n = 5 for each group), and all experiments were performed twice with similar results. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001. Abbreviation: ns, not significant (Student’s t-test, ANOVA/LSD)