Combined TIM-3 and PD-1 blockade restrains hepatocellular carcinoma development by facilitating CD4+ and CD8+ T cell-mediated antitumor immune responses

Figure 5 Combined blockade ameliorated T cell exhaustion. A and D: The percentages of programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)+CD8+ T cells; B and E: T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing protein 3 (TIM-3)+CD8+ T cells; C and F: PD-1+TIM-3+CD8+ T cells in the tumor tissues of mice in the four groups was assessed with flow cytometry. Data from at least three independent experiments were presented as mean ± SD. ^aP < 0.01, ^bP < 0.01, ^cP < 0.01, compared with the immunoglobulin G isotype control group. PD-1: Programmed cell death protein 1; TIM-3: T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing protein 3; IgG: Immunoglobulin G; mAb: Monoclonal antibody.