CD161+CD8+ T cells in patients with hepatitis B virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma

Figure 1 mRNA expression levels of CD8A, KLRB1, and PDCD1 in hepatocellular carcinoma and paracancerous tissues. A: CD8A mRNA expression levels; B: KLRB1 mRNA expression levels; C: PDCD1 mRNA expression levels. The Mann-Whitney U test was employed. ^aP < 0.05; ^bP < 0.01.

Figure 2 Kaplan-Meier survival curves of patients with hepatitis B virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma with different CD8A, KLRB1, and PDCD1 expression levels. OS: Overall survival; PFS: Progression-free survival; RFS: Recurrence-free survival.

Figure 3 Co-expression of KLRB1 with CD8A and PDCD1 (Spearman's rank correlation). A: Co-expression of KLRB1 with PDCD1; B: Co-expression of KLRB1 with CD8A.

Figure 4 Functional enrichment analysis of CD8A, KLRB1, and PDCD1. A: Biological processes; B: Cellular components; C: Molecular functions; D: Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes signaling pathways. BP: Biological processes; CC: Cellular components; MF: Molecular functions; KEGG: Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes; MHC: Major histocompatibility complex.

Figure 5 CD161, CD8, and programmed death receptor 1 expression in chronic hepatitis B, decompensated cirrhosis, and non-programmed death receptor-hepatocellular carcinoma patients. A: Programmed death receptor 1 (PD-1)⁺ lymphocytes; B: CD161⁺ lymphocytes; C: CD8⁺PD-1⁺ T cells; D: CD161⁺CD8⁺ T cells; E: CD8⁺PD-1⁺CD161⁺ T cells. Kruskal-Wallis test for comparisons among multiple groups and Mann-Whitney U test for comparisons between two groups. ^aP < 0.05; ^bP < 0.01. CHB: Chronic hepatitis B; DCC: Decompensated cirrhosis; HCC: Hepatocellular carcinoma.

Figure 6 Molecular expression of CD161, CD8, and programmed death receptor 1 in programmed death receptor 1-hepatocellular carcinoma and non-programmed death receptor 1-hepatocellular carcinoma patients. A: Programmed death receptor 1 (PD-1)⁺ lymphocytes; B: CD8⁺PD-1⁺ T cells; C: CD8⁺PD-1⁺CD161⁺ T cells; D: CD161⁺ lymphocytes; E: CD161⁺CD8⁺ T cells. The Mann-Whitney U test was employed. ^aP < 0.01. PD-1: Programmed death receptor 1.

Figure 7 PCR testing of cancerous tissues and adjacent nontumorous tissues and immunohistochemical staining of liver tissues from patients diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma and chronic hepatitis B (40 ×). A: CD161 mRNA levels; B: CD8A mRNA levels; C: Programmed death receptor 1 (PD-1) mRNA levels; D: Immunohistochemical staining levels of CD8, CD161, and PD-1 in tumor tissues, adjacent nontumorous tissues, liver tissues from chronic hepatitis B patients, and portal area liver tissues. ^aP < 0.01. PD-1: Programmed death receptor 1; CHB: Chronic hepatitis B; HCC: Hepatocellular carcinoma.

Figure 8 Semiquantitative unpaired analysis of CD161, CD8, and programmed death receptor 1 immunohistochemical results. A: CD8 optical density (OD) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) normal tissues, HCC tumor tissues, chronic hepatitis B (CHB) liver tissues and CHB portal area tissues; B: Programmed death receptor 1 (PD-1) OD of HCC normal tissues, HCC tumor tissues, CHB liver tissues and CHB portal area tissues; C: CD161 OD of HCC normal tissues, HCC tumor tissues, CHB liver tissues and CHB portal area tissues; D: Paired analysis of CD8; E: Paired analysis of PD-1; F: Paired analysis of CD161. A-C: ANOVA; D-F: Paired t test. ^aP < 0.05; ^bP < 0.01. PD-1: Programmed death receptor 1; CHB: Chronic hepatitis B; HCC: Hepatocellular carcinoma; OD: Optical density.