Figure 1.

The frequency of CD4⁺ TIM‐3⁺ lymphocytes was significantly higher in both patient groups. PBMCs were stained with CD4‐FITC, PD‐1‐PerCp‐Cy5.5, CD39‐PE, and TIM‐3‐APC conjugated monoclonal antibodies and analyzed with BD FACSCalibur flow cytometer. Lymphocytes were gated based on forward and side scatters; the frequency of CD39⁺, TIM‐3⁺, and PD‐1⁺ subsets in CD4⁺ T cells, were then detected according to the antibody staining. The frequency of CD4⁺ TIM‐3⁺ lymphocytes was significantly higher in both moderate/severe and critical patients compared to healthy individuals (p < .0001 and p < .01, respectively). (A) the healthy individuals; (B) the moderate/severe patients; (C) the critical patients. PBMC, peripheral blood mononuclear cell