Fig. 3

Aging and menopause differentially regulate intracellular cytotoxic molecules in EM CD8+ T cells. Mixed cell suspensions from EM tissues were stained for the intracellular cytotoxic molecules perforin, granzyme A and granzyme B for analysis by flow cytometry. A Percentage positive cells of perforin, granzyme A and granzyme B in EM CD8+ T cells (n = 27). B Correlation between age and the ratio of Granzyme A/Granzyme B in EM CD8+ T cells (n = 27). C Comparison of pre- vs. post-menopausal women percentage positive cells of perforin, granzyme A and granzyme B in EM CD8+ T cells. D Comparison of pre- vs. post-menopausal women the ratio of Granzyme A/Granzyme B from EM CD8+ T cells. E Correlation between age and the percentage positive cells of perforin (left), granzyme A (right) and granzyme B (middle) in EM CD8+ T cells from pre- and post-menopausal women. Pre-menopausal women (black circle; n = 10), post-menopausal women (white circle; n = 17). Each dot represents a different patient. Mean ± SEM are shown. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001; Friedman test followed by Dunns post-test (A), Spearman test (B, E). Kruskal-Wallis test followed by Dunns post-test or Friedman test followed by Dunns post-test (C), Mann–Whitney U-test (D)