Objective: To explore the relationship between sialic-acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectin 7 (Siglec-7) expressed on NK cells and hepatitis B virus-related cirrhosis. Methods: Peripheral venous blood samples were collected from 23 healthy controls and 31 patients with hepatitis B virus-related cirrhosis (Child-Pugh A, n = 7; Child-Pugh B, n = 12; Child-Pugh C, n = 12). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were obtained by using Ficoll-Hypaque density gradient centrifugation and the expression of Siglec-7 and NK cells phenotype and their subpopulations were detected by flow cytometry. Comparisons between various groups were performed using t -test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and correlations between variables were analyzed using Pearson's-correlation coefficient. Results: (1) There was no significant difference in the percentage of NK cells and in their subpopulations with HBV-related cirrhosis and healthy controls. (2) Siglec-7 expression on NK cells in patients with HBV-related cirrhosis(62.44±13.45%)was significantly down-regulated than that to healthy controls(75.39±12.19%)while the frequency of Siglec-7(+) NK cells were negatively correlated with Child-Pugh score. (3) Subpopulation analysis showed that Siglec-7 expression on CD56(bright)CD16(-)NK cells(66.99±15.93%)was significantly lower than CD56(dim)CD16(+)NK cells(76.54±13.9%) in HBV-related cirrhosis. However, the expression of Siglec-7 in healthy controls showed no difference in these two NK cell subsets. (4) Phenotypic analysis showed that Siglec-7(+) NK cells express higher levels of activating receptor CD16, CD38, NKp46 and lower levels of inhibitory receptor CD158b. Indeed, the frequency of CD16 and CD38 on Siglec-7(+) NK cells in HBV-related cirrhosis was lower than that in healthy controls. Conclusion: The disease progression in patients with hepatitis B virus-related cirrhosis is associated to decreased frequencies of Siglec-7(+)NK cells.
目的： 探索自然杀伤（NK）细胞上Siglec-7分子（唾液酸结合免疫球蛋白样凝集素7）与乙型肝炎病毒相关肝硬化之间的关系。 方法： 收集HBV相关肝硬化患者外周血资料31例（Child-Pugh A级7例，Child-Pugh B级12例，Child-Pugh C级12例）以及健康对照外周血23例。通过密度梯度离心法获取外周血单个核细胞，通过流式细胞术检测NK细胞及其亚群上的Siglec-7分子及细胞表型。计量资料采用t检验、单因素方差分析。用Pearson相关系数分析变量之间的相关性。 结果： （1）HBV相关肝硬化患者外周血NK细胞及其亚群数量和健康对照相比差异无统计学意义。（2）与健康对照（75.39%±12.19%）相比，HBV相关肝硬化患者Siglec-7(+)NK细胞频数（62.44%±13.45%）下降。其中，Child-Pugh C级患者（61.13%±12.07%）下降最为明显。Siglec-7(+)NK细胞频数与Child-Pugh评分呈负相关。（3）亚群分析显示HBV相关肝硬化患者Siglec-7(+)CD56(bright)CD16(-)NK细胞频数（66.99%±15.93%）显著低于Siglec-7(+)CD56(dim)CD16(+)NK细胞（76.54%±13.90%），健康对照中Siglec-7在两组NK细胞亚群中表达差异无统计学意义。（4）表型分析结果显示，Siglec-7(+)NK细胞表达更高水平的活化性受体CD16、CD38、NKp46和较低水平的抑制性受体CD158b。HBV相关肝硬化患者Siglec-7(+)NK细胞表达CD16、CD38频数低于健康对照组。 结论： HBV相关肝硬化患者外周血Siglec-7(+)NK细胞频数下降，并与疾病进展相关。.
Keywords: Hepatitis B virus; Liver cirrhosis; Nature killer cells.