Fig. 2

The upregulation of inhibitory features of CD4⁺CXCR5⁻FOXP3⁺ T cells in patients with chronic HBV infection. (A) Comparison of frequencies of circulating CD4⁺CXCR5⁻FOXP3⁺ T cells within HC subjects (n = 25) and HBV-infected patients (n = 91). HBV-infected patients, including eAg⁺Clnf (n = 24), eAg⁺CHep (n = 21), eAg⁻Clnf (n = 26), eAg⁻CHep (n = 7) groups, and HBV-related hepatic failure (n = 13). (B, C) The expression of inhibitory molecules and surface markers in CD4⁺CXCR5⁻FOXP3⁺ T cells among six groups as indicated. (D) Correlation between serological index or age and inhibitory markers in CD4⁺CXCR5⁻FOXP3⁺ T cells in HBV-infected patients (n = 91). Mann–Whitney U test, Kruskal–Wallis H test, or Spearman’s rank correlation test. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001. ALT, alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate transaminase; CHB, chronic hepatitis B; eAg⁺CHep, HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B; eAg⁺Clnf, HBeAg-positive chronic HBV infection; eAg⁻Chep, HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B; eAg⁻Clnf, HBeAg-negative chronic HBV infection; HC, healthy control; HF, hepatic failure