Figure 4: Functional analysis reveals that TESC, but not TEX after viral cure, display functional properties similar to those of TMEM from HCV natural resolvers.
a, Representative flow cytometry plots of the cytokine production and cytotoxicity capability of HCV-specific CD8+ T cells following ex vivo stimulation with or without cognate antigen. The co-expression patterns and percentage of cells producing IFNγ, TNFα and IL-2 cytokines and expressing CD107a are indicated. b, Dot plot histograms displaying IFNγ, TNFα and IL-2 production as well as CD107a expression across TEX (paired samples, n=8) and TESC (paired samples, n=7) pre- and post-DAA therapy, and in resolver TMEM (n=8). Triangles identify two analyzed TP-ESC populations. Statistical testing by Mann-Whitney tests when comparing TEX versus TF-ESC or TMEM (unpaired, nonparametric, two-sided), or by Wilcoxon tests (paired, nonparametric, two-sided) when comparing paired samples pre- versus post-DAA. A schematic representation of the comparison rules and statistical tests used are presented in Extended Data Fig. 3c. c, Overlapping pie-charts describing the polyfunctionality of TEX (paired samples, n=8) and TESC (paired samples, n=7) pre- and post-DAA therapy, as well as TMEM (n=8), after ex vivo stimulation with cognate antigens. d, Frequencies of T cells with one, two and three or more functions as defined by the expression or co-expression of CD107a, IFNγ, TNFα and IL-2 after stimulation with cognate antigens. Statistical testing by Mann-Whitney tests (unpaired, nonparametric, two-sided). b,d, *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001.