Figure 7.

Identification of the CD45RO⁺ HLA‐DR⁺ CD38^dim NK cell subset and functional characterisation. (a) Frequency of CD45RO⁺ cells in HLA‐DR⁺ CD38^dim NK cells (n = 12) and HLA‐DR⁺ CD38^high NK cells (n = 12). (b) Frequency of HLA‐DR⁺ cells in CD45RO⁺ CD38^dim NK cells (n = 12) and CD45RO⁺ CD38^high NK cells (n = 12). (c) Frequency of CD45RO⁺ HLA‐DR⁺ cells in CD38^dim NK cells and CD38^high NK cells determined in vitro (left panel, n = 12) and in vivo (right panel, n = 24). (a–c) Normality was assessed by the d’Agostino–Pearson normality test. Groups were compared by Wilcoxon’s matched‐pairs signed rank test. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001; ****P < 0.0001. (d) Correlation between the frequency of CD45RO⁺ HLA‐DR⁺ cells in CD38^dim NK cells and the frequency of IFN‐γ⁺ cells in CD38^dim NK cells (left panel, n = 6) and with the frequency of perforin⁺ cells in CD38^dim NK cells (right panel, n = 6). Spearman’s correlation coefficients are reported. (e) Frequency of IFN‐γ⁺ cells, TNF‐α⁺ cells, IFN‐γ⁺ TNF‐α⁺ cells, perforin⁺ cells, Granzyme‐B⁺ cells and Granzyme‐B⁺ perforin⁺ cells in CD45RO⁺ HLA‐DR⁺ CD38^dim NK cells and CD45RO⁺ HLA‐DR⁺ CD38^high NK cells (n = 6). Normality was assessed by the Shapiro–Wilk normality test. Groups were compared by either a paired t‐test or Wilcoxon’s matched‐pairs signed rank test depending on the normality. *P < 0.05; ***P < 0.001. Technical replicate (n = 1).