title: Tim-3 expression on peripheral monocytes and CD3+CD16/CD56+natural killer-like T cells in patients with chronic hepatitis B.
abstract: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the major causes of chronic liver inflammation. Tim-3 acts as a negative regulatory molecule and plays a critical role in immune tolerance. In the current study, we investigated Tim-3 expression on peripheral monocytes and CD3+CD16/CD56+ natural killer like T (NKT-like) cells in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from 52 CHB patients and 60 healthy controls. Tim-3+CD14+ cells and Tim-3+CD3+CD16/CD56+ cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. Results showed that expression of Tim-3 was significantly increased on both the monocytes and NKT-like cells in CHB patients than in controls (P = 0.002 and P < 0.001, respectively). Tim-3 levels on monocytes and NKT-like cells were further upregulated in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). In addition, we assessed the correlation of Tim-3 expression with levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). Data revealed that Tim-3 expression on both monocytes and NKT-like cells was positively correlated with level of ALT (r = 0.59, P < 0.001, and r = 0.60, P < 0.001, respectively), whereas Tim-3 expression on NKT-like cells was negatively correlated with serum level of TNF-α (r = -0.54, P < 0.001) in CHB patients. Our results suggest that Tim-3 may play important roles in the pathogenesis of CHB.
authors.affiliation: Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China; Liver Failure Treatment and Research Center, Beijing 302 Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Y-H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Rong
authors.forename: Z-H
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Y-L
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zang
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: H-L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: A-M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: S-J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Xin
authors.forename: S-L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: You
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D019002:CD56 Antigen / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D058625:End Stage Liver Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015870:Gene Expression; D000072597:Hepatitis A Virus Cellular Receptor 2; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D017114:Liver Failure, Acute / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D017452:Receptors, IgG / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D017252:CD3 Complex; D019002:CD56 Antigen; C428200:FCGR3B protein, human; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; C448908:HAVCR2 protein, human; D000072597:Hepatitis A Virus Cellular Receptor 2; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C522918:NCAM1 protein, human; D017452:Receptors, IgG; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000410:Alanine Transaminase
keywords: Tim-3; acute-on-chronic liver failure; chronic hepatitis B; monocyte; natural killer-like T cell