Decreased S6 phosphorylation in pDCs from HBe^pos chronic hepatitis B patients. PBMCs from healthy subjects (HC), HBe^pos and HBe^neg chronic hepatitis B patients (all matched on age and sex; HBe^neg and HBe^pos patients matched for serum ALT levels and HBV viral load) were cultured for 5 hours. CpG-A or Lox was added 4 hours, 2 hours, 1 hour, or 15 minutes before the end of culture. S6 phosphorylation (p-S6) was analyzed within the CD11c⁻BDCA-4⁺ pDC population. Results are representative for 6 (15-minute, 2-hour, 4-hour stimulation) or 8 (medium and 1-hour stimulation) subjects per group. (A) Representative FACS plots and percentages p-S6⁺ pDCs of unstimulated and 1-hour stimulated pDCs are shown. (B) Mean ± SEM percentages p-S6⁺ pDCs are shown for each condition. Unstimulated cultures are represented by 0. (C) Percentages p-S6⁺ pDCs of unstimulated pDCs, and the proportion of unstimulated pDCs within the PBMC population were determined. Data from HC, HBe^neg, and HBe^pos patients were combined, and the Pearson rank correlation coefficient (r_p) was calculated. Significance and r_p of the correlation are indicated. *P < .05, unpaired t test compared with HC.