Distinct distribution of nontransformed leukocytes in PB of patients with SS and HCs. (A) Quantitation (absolute cell counts/µL) of whole blood innate and adaptive immune cell populations in SS initial samples (n = 14, for which absolute counts were assessed) and age- and sex-matched HCs (n = 10). (B) Relevant altered distribution (as % of given cell population on y-axis) of non-CD4⁺ and normal residual CD4⁺ T-cell subsets based on the data of initial SS samples (n = 24 for non-CD4⁺ and n = 21 for CD4⁺ T-cell subsets) compared with HC samples (n = 10). SS samples that contained <2% of normal residual CD4⁺ T cells (n = 3) were not included in the analysis due to decreased accuracy of cell subset classification. The medians (middle line) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals are given. Mann-Whitney U test was used for statistical analysis, and significance is noted as not significant (n.s.). *P < .05; **P < .01; ***P < .001; ****P < .0001. Treg, T regulatory cell.