*2.6. Statistical Analysis*

The results were expressed as mean values ± SD, and Microsoft Excel (Microsoft, Redmond, CA, USA) was used for data analysis. Student's *t*-test (two-tailed, assuming equal variance) was used to compare the experimental groups, and a *p*-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. T-CD4<sup>+</sup> and T-CD8a<sup>+</sup> were expressed as percentages of CD3ε + lymphocytes (mean values ± SD), B and NK cells as percentages of CD3ε <sup>−</sup> lymphocytes (mean values ± SD), and the expressions of maturation and activation markers on NK cells, as percentages of NK1.1<sup>+</sup> cells gated from CD3ε <sup>−</sup> lymphocytes (mean values ± SD).

#### **3. Results** ε ε
