Clinical correlation between NKG2A+NK cells and regulatory T cells in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection / 中国免疫学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the correlation between NKG2A+NK cells and regulatory T cells in peripheral blood of patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection, and explore the clinical significances.Methods: Forty-six patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection and 17 health individuals were included in this study.HBV DNA levels were measured by Real-time quantitative PCR ( FQ-PCR) .NKG2A+NK cells and Treg in PBMC were quantitatively analyzed by flow cytometry.Results:According to HBV DNA levels,the CHB patients were divided into two groupsLow HBV DNA group(Low viral load group,300-104 U/ml)and High HBV DNA group( High viral load group,105-108 U/ml).We found that ALT levels of High HBV DNA group were obviously higher than Low HBV DNA group(P<0.05).The frequenies of CD56dim NK cells of High HBV DNA group were obviously higher than low HBV DNA group ( P<0.05 ), and similarly the percentages of NKG2A+CD56dim NK cells of High HBV DNA group were significantly higher than Low HBV DNA and control groups ( P<0.05).We also found that the percentages of regulatory T cells ( Treg) of High HBV DNA group were significantly higher than Low HBV DNA and control groups ( P<0.05).In addition,the proportions of NKG2A+CD56dim NK cells were positively correlated with High HBV DNA levels (r=0.59,P<0.05) and the percentages of Treg(r=0.53,P<0.05) in CHB patients.Conclusion:NKG2A+CD56dim NK cells may closely relate to the HBV-related immune escape and the progress of CHB.