Liver-infiltrating CD8+ lymphocytes in carrier mice displayed the PD-1^hiCD127^low-exhausted phenotype.

<p>A and B. HBV core mutants induced upregulation of PD-1 expression in intrahepatic T lymphocytes. C57BL/6 mice were hydrodynamically injected with WT pAAV/HBV1.2 or HBV core mutant DNA, including HBV-175 or HBV-38 constructs. Four weeks after the injection, intrahepatic lymphocytes were isolated, and the PD-1 expressions by CD8⁺ (A) and CD4⁺ (B) T-cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. C. C57BL/6 mice were hydrodynamically injected with wild type hepatitis B virus (HBV-wt) and HBV core mutants. Intrahepatic lymphocytes were isolated at 4 weeks, and PD-1 and CD127 expressions by CD8⁺ T cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. D. C57BL/6 mice were hydrodynamically injected with HBV core mutant DNA, HBV-175. Intrahepatic infiltrating lymphocytes and splenic lymphocytes were isolated at 4 weeks, and PD-1 and CD127 expressions by CD8⁺ T cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. *<i>p</i><0.05. The data were representative of at least 6 independent experiments.