慢性乙肝患者外周血NK细胞NKp46和NKG2A的表达

Expression of NKp46 and NKG2A in peripheral blood NK cells of patients with chronic hepatitis B

目的检测免疫清除期和免疫耐受期慢性乙肝患者外周血中NK细胞频率和NK受体NKp46和NKG2A表达情况。方法分离患者和健康对照者外周血单个核细胞,流式细胞仪检测各组NK细胞频率和受体表达。结果慢性乙肝免疫清除期患者外周血NK细胞占淋巴细胞比例(10.91%±3.93%,n=21)较免疫耐受期患者(15.65%±5.58%,n=15,P=0.024)和健康者(14.23%±7.37%,n=25,P=0.011)下降,免疫清除期患者NK细胞的NKp46表达(45.45%±14.00%,n=19)较免疫耐受期患者(23.35%±6.56%,n=8,P<0.001)和健康者(31.69%±13.07%,n=20,P=0.001)明显上升,NKG2A表达(35.62%±13.20%,n=19)较免疫耐受期患者(25.57%±5.56%,n=8,P=0.038)和健康者(26.80%±10.49%,n=20,P=0.047)上升。结论慢性乙肝患者外周血NK细胞频率下降,NKp46和NKG2A表达上调,这些改变与免疫清除病毒有关。

Objective To determine the frequency of NK cells and expression of their receptors, including NKG2A and NKp46, in peripheral blood of patients with chronic hepatitis B. Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells （PBMC） were separated from patients and healthy controls. Frequency of NK cells and expression of their receptors were detected by flow cytometry. Results The number of NK cells in peripheral blood of chronic hepatitis B patients was less at immunoclearence phase（10.91% ± 3.93%, n=21）than at immunotolerance phase（15.65% ± 5.58%, n=15, P=0.024）and than that of healthy controls（14.23% ± 7.37%, n=25, P=0.011）. In contrast, the expression level of NKp46 was significantly higher in patients at immunoclearence phase （45.45% ± 14.00%, n=19） than at immunotolerant phase（23.35% ± 6.56%, n=8, P〈0.001） and than that in healthy controls（31.69%± 13.07%, n=20, P=0.001）. Moreover, the NKG2A expression level was higher in patients at immunoclearence phase （35.62% ± 13.20%, n=19） than at immunotolerant phase （25.57%±5.56%, n=8, P=0.038） and than that in healthy controls （26.80% ±10.49%, n=20, P=0.047）. Conclusion The frequency of NK cells in peripheral blood of patients at immunoclearence phase is decreased whereas the expression of NKp46 and NKG2A is up-regulated, which is related to viral immunoclearence.