Fig 2: Immunohistochemical staining for the expression and distribution of co-signaling molecules and their ligands in the livers of HCV-related cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension. (a) The cirrhotic liver had significantly higher expression of PD-1, PD L1, PD L2, Tim-3, and Galectin-9. (b) The cirrhotic liver had higher expression of CTLA-4, CD80, and CD86 but lower expression of CD28. *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001; n.s., not significant (p > 0.05). Normal-liver (n = 3); LC-Liver, liver cirrhosis-liver (n = 15).

Fig 3: mRNA expression of co-signaling molecules and their ligands in the spleens of HCV-related cirrhotic patients. (a) The PH-spleen showed significantly increased mRNA expression of PD-1 and PD-L2. The mRNA levels of inhibitory receptors PD-1 and its ligands PD-L1/L2 in PH-spleens and traumatic spleens. (b) The PH-spleen showed significantly increased mRNA expression of Tim-3 and its ligand Galectin-9. (c) The PH-spleen showed significantly increased mRNA expression of CD80 and CD86 but significantly decreased mRNA expression of CD28. *p < 0.05; n.s., not significant (p > 0.05). Trauma-spleen (n = 5); PH-spleen, portal hypertension-spleen (n = 15).