Increased programmed death (PD)-1-expressing CD8+ and CD4+ T-cells in liver-infiltrating lymphocytes from mice with hepatitis B viral (HBV) persistence.

<p>A. C57BL/6 or BALB/c mice were hydrodynamically injected with the pAAV/HBV1.2 plasmid. Four weeks post-injection, intrahepatic lymphocytes were isolated and PD-1 expression was analyzed by flow cytometry. B and C. C57BL/6 mice were hydrodynamically injected with pAAV/HBV1.2. Four weeks after hydrodynamic injection, intrahepatic lymphocytes from mice which were HBsAg-positive (carrier) or HBsAg-negative (cleared) were isolated, and the PD-1 expressions by CD8⁺ (B) and CD4⁺ (C) T-ells were analyzed by flow cytometry. The data were representative of at least 12 independent experiments. D. C57BL/6 mice were injected with pAAV/HBV1.2 plasmid hydrodynamically. HBsAg-positive carrier were sacrificed at 4 weeks post-injection. Intrahepatic lymphocytes and splenocytes were isolated and the populations of CD4⁺PD-1⁺ or CD8⁺PD-1⁺ were determined by flow cytometry analysis. *<i>p</i><0.05. The data were representative of at least 6 independent experiments.