Fig. 5

NK immunity in CA and CAN patients. a The frequency of total NK cells and their two subsets are shown for CA and CAN groups, and distribution of NK subsets is depicted as the frequency of CD56+CD3− NK cells. b MFI for NKp44, NKp46, NKG2D, and NKp30 on CD56+CD3− NK cells and the frequency for NKG2A⁺ cells within CD56+CD3− NK cells from CA and CAN groups. c MFI for CD69, PD1 and Tim-3 on CD56+CD3− NK cells from CA and CAN groups. d–e The frequency for granzyme B⁺, perforin⁺, IFN-γ⁺ and TNF-α⁺ cells within CD56+CD3− NK cells from CA and CAN groups. Horizontal bars represent the median. CA CHB patients strongly recommended to start antiviral therapy, and CAN CHB patients excluded from treatment based on the treatment guidelines