To further confirm the source cell type of IL-23, we performed immunofluorescence staining on liver tissues from patients with hepatitis B. Confocal microscopy of liver tissues showed that IL-23p19, the specific subunit of IL-23 heterodimers, co-localized with the CD11c mDC marker, but not with the CD303 pDC marker (Figure 2A and 2B). This evidence concerns the gene ITGAX and hepatitis B virus infection.