Figure 1.

Expression of Gal-9 is increased and associated with functional impairment in NK cells of CHB patients. (A) Representative flow cytometry plots showing expression of the inhibitory receptors, CD158a, CD158b, KIR3DL1, TIGIT, NKG2A, and Gal-9 on circulating NK cells in the Tolerant, Active, and Inactive groups of CHB patients and HCs. (B) Comparison of the proportion of receptors expressed on circulating NK cells in (A). (C) Comparison of Gal-9 expression in circulating CD56^bright NK cells and CD56^dim NK cells in CHB patients. (D) Comparison of the PD-1 expression levels in circulating Gal-9⁺ NK cells and Gal-9^- NK cells in patients with CHB. (E) Comparison of the TIGIT levels in circulating Gal-9⁺ NK cells and Gal-9^- NK cells in patients with CHB. (F) Gal-9 mRNA expression in circulating NK cells from CHB patients and HCs. (G) Gal-9 expression in serum from CHB patients and HCs. (H) Comparison of the Gal-9 expression levels in NK cells in peripheral blood of CHB patients with or without antiviral treatment, respectively. Results are expressed as the mean ± SEM, and the number of samples (n) in each group was ≥ 3. One-way ANOVA test was conducted for four-group comparisons. Groups with significant differences are marked, and the unmarked paired groups have no differences. Unpaired t-test was used to compare two independent groups. A paired t-test was used to compare paired samples. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001; ****P < 0.0001; n.s., not significant.