Figure 1.

Tim-3 is up-regulated on natural killer (NK) cells by hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. (a) Representative flow cytometric plots for Tim-3 expressions on CD3⁻ CD56^bright/dim NK cells from chronically HCV-infected individuals, participants with a sustained virological response (SVR) following antiviral therapy, and healthy subjects (HS). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were first gated on lymphocytes, then CD3⁻ CD56⁺ NK cells, and CD56^bright CD56^dim subsets. Percentage of cell frequency in the gated area is shown. (b) Summary data showing the percentages of CD3⁻ CD56⁺ NK cells in the gated lymphocyte populations from three groups of subjects. Each dot represents one individuals and horizontal bar represents mean value. *P < 0·05. (c) Summary data showing the percentages and mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of Tim-3 expression in total CD3⁻ CD56⁺ NK cells, CD3⁻ CD56^bright and CD3⁻ CD56^dim subsets. Each dot represents one individual and horizontal bar represents mean value. *P < 0·05, **P < 0·01. (d) Representative flow cytometric plots, and summary data for Tim-3 and KLRG-1 expressions on CD3⁻ CD56⁺ NK cells from 18 HCV patients and 6 HS. *P < 0·05.