Fig. 2

Transitional and CD21⁻PD-1⁺B cells in eRA patients at diagnosis and association with 24-week CDAI components. (A) Frequency of transitional B cells (CD24⁺⁺CD38⁺⁺; in total B cells) in eRA patients (N = 69) at diagnosis, subdivided by 24-week follow-up tender joints, Mann-Whitney U-test. (B) Frequency of PD-1⁺ B cells (of parent population CD21⁻ B cells) in eRA patients (N = 70) at diagnosis, subdivided by 24-week follow-up tender joints, Mann-Whitney U-test. (C) PGA in eRA patients (N = 70) at 24-week follow up, subdivided by 24-week follow-up tender joints, Mann-Whitney U-test. (D) EGA in eRA patients at 24-week follow up, subdivided by 24-week follow-up swollen joints, Mann-Whitney U-test. (E) Frequency of transitional B cells in eRA patients at diagnosis, subdivided by 24-week follow-up swollen joints, Mann-Whitney U-test. (F) Frequency of CD21⁻ PD-1⁺ B cells, in eRA patients at diagnosis, subdivided by 24-week follow-up swollen joints, unpaired T-test. (G) Scatter plot and Spearman’s Rank correlation analyses of transitional B-cell frequency at diagnosis against 24-week follow-up PGA. (H) Scatter plot and Spearman’s Rank correlation analyses of CD21⁻ PD-1⁺ B-cell frequency at diagnosis against 24-week follow-up PGA. (I) Scatter plot and Spearman’s Rank correlation analyses of transitional B-cell frequency at diagnosis against 24-week follow-up EGA. (J) Scatter plot and Spearman’s Rank correlation analyses of CD21⁻ PD-1⁺ B-cell frequency at diagnosis against 24-week follow-up EGA. In panels A–E, horizontal lines indicate the median values, while in panel F, the horizontal line indicates the mean value *p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01; ns: non-significant; eRA: early Rheumatoid Arthritis; TJ: Tender Joints; SJ: Swollen Joints; PGA: Patient Global Assessment; EGA: Evaluator Global Assessment