title: Liver myofibroblasts from hepatitis B related liver failure patients may regulate natural killer cell function via PGE2.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Natural killer (NK) cells are abundant in the liver and constitute a major innate immune component that contributes to immune-mediated liver injury. However, few studies have investigated the phenotypes and functions of NK cells involved in hepatitis B related liver failure (LF), and the precise mechanism underlying NK cell regulation is not fully understood.
  
  
  METHODS
  We detected the percentage and function of peripheral NK cells both in hepatitis B related LF patients and healthy volunteers by flow cytometry and isolated the liver myofibroblasts (LMFs) from hepatitis B related LF livers. To determine the possible effects of LMFs on NK cells, mixed cell cultures were established in vitro.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found a down-regulated percentage of peripheral NK cells in hepatitis B related LF patients, and their NK cells also displayed decreased activated natural cytotoxicity receptors (NCRs) and cytokine production. In a co-culture model, LMFs sharply attenuated IL-2-induced NK cell triggering receptors, cytotoxicity, and cytokine production. The inhibitory effect of LMFs on NK cells correlated with their ability to produce prostaglandin (PG) E2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that LMFs may protect against immune-mediated liver injury in hepatitis B related LF patients by inhibiting NK cell function via PGE2.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong Province, China. zm20051208@163.com.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 277 Yanta West Road, Xi'an, 710061, Shanxi Province, China. wangfenglan8621@163.com.|Department of Infectious Diseases, the Eighth Hospital of Xi'an, Xi'an, China. wangfenglan8621@163.com.
authors.forename: Fenglan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong Province, China. ytchong2005@126.com.
authors.forename: Yutian
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chong
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatic Surgury, First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China. tai2004qiang@163.com.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Tai
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong Province, China. qiyizh@163.com.
authors.forename: Qiyi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong Province, China. guangzhouzyb@126.com.
authors.forename: Yubao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong Province, China. pzp33@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 277 Yanta West Road, Xi'an, 710061, Shanxi Province, China. linshumei123@126.com.
authors.forename: Shumei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong Province, China. zhilianggao@21cn.com.
authors.forename: Zhiliang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Gao
mesh_terms: D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000378:metabolism*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D058628:Myofibroblasts / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D015232:Dinoprostone