title: [Expression of Tim-3 on Peripheral CD56(+) NK Cells and ItsCorrelation with Liver Fibrosis in Patients withAdvanced Schistosomiasis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the expression of T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain protein 3 (Tim-3) on CD56(+) NK cells in peripheral blood and its correlation with liver fibrosis indicators in patients with advanced schistosomiasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tim-3 expression on CD6(+) NK cells from 28 patients with advanced schistosomiasis and 30 healthy controls was determined by flow cytometry. The serum levels of IFN-y and IL-4 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Fibroscan analyzer was used for liver stiffness measurement (LSM) to determine the extent of liver fibrosis. Four serological indicators of liver fibrosis, collagen type III N-peptide (PIIP N-P), Laminin (LN), collagen IV (CIV) and hyaluronic acid (HA) were measured by the Automated Chemiluminescence Immunoassay Analyzer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Flow cytometry analysis showed that Tim-3 expression on CD56(+) NK cells in advanced schistosomiasis patients was (62.3±11.4)%, significantly higher than that (52.1±6.5)% (P< 0.01). In patients with advanced schistosomiasis and the healthy controls, the levels of PIIIP N-P were (86.5±29.5) ng/mL and (22.0±7.8) ng/mL, LN (49.3±21.5) ng/mL and (20.4±6.3) ng/mL, CIV (67.5±22.3) ng/mL and (22.0±3.9) ng/mL, HA (645.9±483.1) ng/mL and (54.7±27.7) ng/mL, respectively. There were significant differences in all these indicators between the two groups (P<0.05). The levels of IFN-y were (93.9?20.1) ng/L and (107.7?24.6) ng/L, and those of IL-4 were (46.6±11.8) ng/L and (28.9±8.9) ng/L respectively in patients with advanced schistosomiasis and the healthy controls, both with significant differences (P<0.05). Spearman nonparametric correlation analysis showed that Tim-3 expression on CD56(+) NK cells in patients was positively correlated with the levels of LSM, PIIIP N-P, LN, CIV and IL-4 (r=0.528-0.834, P<0.01), but negatively with serum IFN-y (r=-0.501, P<0.01). No correlation was found with the HA level (r=0.352, P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The expression of Tim-3 on peripheral CD56(+) NK cells increases in patients with advanced schistosomiasis compared with the healthy controls, and it positively correlates with the levels of LSM, PIIIP N-P, LN, CIV and IL-4, four indicators of liver fibrosis.
authors.forename: Qi-wen
authors.initials: QW
authors.lastname: WU
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: ZHU
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: FU
authors.forename: Jin-sun
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: YANG
authors.forename: Zhi-guo
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: CAO
authors.forename: Chun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: PU
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D024141:Collagen Type IV / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D000072597:Hepatitis A Virus Cellular Receptor 2; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000378:metabolism*; D007797:Laminin / Q000378:metabolism; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000378:metabolism; D011347:Procollagen / Q000378:metabolism; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D024141:Collagen Type IV; C448908:HAVCR2 protein, human; D000072597:Hepatitis A Virus Cellular Receptor 2; C573415:IFNG protein, human; C508598:IL4 protein, human; D007797:Laminin; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011347:Procollagen; C041876:procollagen Type III-N-terminal peptide; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid