BackgroundChronic HBV infection presents weak or no virus-specific T-cell responses, implying to an exhausted phenotype, characterized by overexpression of several inhibitory receptors. In the present study, it was aimed to characterize the panel of inhibitory molecules on the CD8+ T cells in patients with active chronic HBV infection.MethodsIn this study, 31 active and 32 inactive individuals with chronic HBV infection were recruited. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated and a multicolor flow cytometry was applied to evaluate the surface inhibitory molecules of TIM3, PD-1, and CD39.ResultsCD8+ T cells expressing TIM3 were significantly higher in cases with active chronic HBV infection compared to inactive chronic HBV group (8.43 ± 1.4 vs. 5.15 ± 1.43; P