Fig 6.

Tim-3 regulates IL-23p19 expression through STAT3 signaling in CD14⁺ cells of HCV-infected individuals. (A) CD14⁺ monocytes were purified from HCV-infected individuals, incubated with αTim-3 or IgG antibody for 72 h, and then stimulated with or without LPS/R848 for 6 h, followed by flow cytometric analysis for Tim-3, IL-23p19, and pSTAT3 expression. Representative dot plots and summary data under from six subjects with their cells under various treatments are shown. ***, P < 0.001; *, P < 0.05 (as determined by Student t test). (B) Western blot of STAT3 phosphorylation in purified monocytes from HCV-infected individuals following TLR stimulation. Total STAT3 is probed to serve as a protein load control. The results of representative imaging and the means + the SD from four experiments with the densitometry ratios of phosphorylated STAT3/total STAT3 protein in monocytes are summarized on the right panel. ***, P < 0.001; **, P < 0.01 (as determined by Student t test).