Phenotypic expression of natural killer cell associated membrane antigens in patients with chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma.
The function and phenotypes of peripheral blood natural killer (NK) cells from patients with chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were examined using a 4 hr 51Cr release NK assay and two-color flow cytometry utilizing anti-Leu-7 and anti-Leu-11 monoclonal antibodies. There was no significant difference between control and patient groups in the percent representation of a total of NK, Leu-7-11+ or Leu-7+11- cells except that the percent representation of Leu-7+11- cells was significantly increased in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) in comparison with that of chronic active hepatitis (CAH). On the other hand, patients with LC and HCC had lower absolute numbers of a total of NK, Leu-7-11+ and Leu-7+11- cells than did controls or patients with CAH, reflecting the diminished peripheral blood lymphocyte count. Our data indicate that decreased in vitro NK activity in patients with LC and HCC observed in the present study may be due to a functional defect of NK cells.
Kakumu
S
S
Third Department of Medicine, Nagoya University School of Medicine, Japan.
Hirofuji
H
H
Fuji
A
A
Tahara
H
H
Yoshioka
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000235:genetics*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D000954:Antigens, Surface