Peripheral NK cell frequency function and receptor expression in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

ZHANG Ai-min; LIU Fang-fang; YANG Xiao; LI Wen-gang; HAN Ping; LIU Li-ying; DUAN Xue-zhang

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1007-8134.2016.04.005

Abstract：ObjectiveTo explore the changes of peripheral NK cell frequency, functions and the expression of the activating and inhibitory receptors on the surface of NK cells in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and to analyze the features of these two-type receptors in HCC patients.MethodsFlow cytometry was detected in 36 cases of HCC patients, 34 patients with hepatitis B liver cirrhosis (LC) patients with peripheral blood NK cell frequency and receptor 158a, cd158b, NKG2D and NKp30 and NKP44, NKp46 expression, with interleukin 12 (IL-12) stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and flow cytometry detection of NK cell secretion of IFN-and TNF-A, and with the flow type cell toxicity analysis method was used to detect NK cells on K562 cell killing efficiency, through the analysis and comparison of the two groups of NK cell frequency, receptors and function.ResultsThere was no significant difference in the frequency of NK cells between the two groups (P>0.05). The expression of NKG2D and NKP30 in CD56dimNK cells was higher than that in LC group (P<0.05). The expression rate of IFN-, TNF- and IFN- in CD56brightNK cells stimulated by IL-12 was lower than that in LC group (P<0.05). The ratio of HCC cells to K562 was higher in group NK than in group LC (P<0.05).ConclusionsIn group NK, the ability of secreting cytokines of HCC cells was lower than that of LC group, but the killer function was stronger than that of LC group, which might be related to the high expression of the surface active receptor.