title: [Phenotypic and functional features of NK and NKT cells in chronic hepatitis B].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To detect the ratio of natural killer (NK)/natural killer T (NKT) cells in peripheral blood, the levels of NKG2D/NKG2A, interferon γ (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).
  
  
  METHODS
  Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were harvested from CHB patients. The ratio of NK/NKT cells in PBMCs and the levels of NKG2D and NKG2A were detected by flow cytometry. The expressions of intracellular IFN-γ and TNF-α were analyzed by flow cytometry after the treatment with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), brefeldin A (BFA) or ionomycin in vitro. The comparison between two groups was performed by independent sample t-test. The relationship of each index to hepatitis B virus load and serum alanine aminotransferase was analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with healthy controls, CHB patients presented with significantly decreased peripheral blood NK/NKT cell ratio and significantly elevated proportions of NKG2A+ NK and NKG2A+NKT cells, and after the treatment with PMA/BFA/ionomycin, IFN-γ+ NK and IFN-γ+ NKT cells were significantly reduced in CHB patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NK and NKT cells showed a reduced ratio, disordered receptor expressions and decreased cytokine secretion capacity in CHB patients.
authors.affiliation: Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.
authors.forename: Shaofei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.
authors.forename: Man
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.
authors.forename: Xuehua
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.
authors.forename: Zhenhua
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.
authors.forename: Xiaojun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.
authors.forename: Yueqiu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D002452:Cell Count; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D055611:Natural Killer T-Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D004279:DNA, Viral; D000410:Alanine Transaminase