Fig. 4

NK cells from HSP patients, especially HSPN patients, displayed decreased glucose uptake and lactate production. a Scatter plot showed the Glut-1 expression (MFI) of NK cells. HC, n = 34; HSP (without nephritis), n = 33; HSPN, n = 31. b, c The NK cells were treated with IL-15 (10 ng/ml), IL-2 (20 ng/ml) and IL-12 (30 ng/ml) for 18 h. Representative histogram and bar graphs showed the 2-NBDG uptake of basal and stimulated NK cells of indicated groups. HC, n = 34; HSP (without nephritis), n = 33; HSPN, n = 31. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, and ***p < 0.001 (Student’s t test). d Lactate production of indicated groups of activated NK cells were investigated. Results were expressed as mean ± SEM. n = 10, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, and ***p < 0.001 (one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s multiple comparisons). (E) Expression of phosphorylation of ribosomal S6 (pS6) of activated NK cells were measured with flow cytometry. Results were expressed as mean ± SEM. n = 10, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, and ***p < 0.001 (one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s multiple comparisons)