Department of Infectious Diseases and Child Neurology, University of Medical Sciences, ul. Szpitalna 27/33, 60-572, Poznań, Poland,
Inflammation. 2013 Oct;36(5):1004-12. doi: 10.1007/s10753-013-9632-0.
NK cells were found to play an important role in liver fibrosis, a process commonly seen in a chronic liver disease such as chronic hepatitis C (CHC). The aim of this study was to evaluate potential differences in relation to coexisting liver steatosis in children with chronic hepatitis C. The study group consisted of 31 children with chronic hepatitis, aged 7-18 years (mean = 15 ± 2 years). Blood samples were taken prior to liver biopsy. The METAVIR scale was used for histological evaluation. Peripheral lymphocytes were subjected to monoclonal antibodies to CD56 antigen, KIRs and NKG2D antigens. Cells were assayed by flow cytometry for the ratio of positive cells and mean fluorescence intensity (MFI). Results were evaluated regarding the presence of liver steatosis. Significantly higher mean AST activity as well as higher AST-to-platelets ratio index (APRI) was observed in a group of children with coexisting liver steatosis. These children had significantly higher MFI for CD158e and lower MFI for NKG2D. All CHC patients had significantly higher MFI for NKG2D than the controls. The proportion of cells with expression of CD158i, KIR2D and APRI was found independent predictors of liver steatosis in univariate analysis and body mass index in logistic regression. The expression of NK cell receptors is altered in coexisting steatosis that may influence long-term prognosis in CHC.
自然杀伤 (NK) 细胞在肝纤维化中起着重要作用，肝纤维化是慢性丙型肝炎 (CHC) 等慢性肝病中常见的过程。本研究旨在评估与儿童慢性丙型肝炎并存的肝脂肪变性相关的潜在差异。研究组由 31 名年龄在 7-18 岁（平均 15 ± 2 岁）的慢性肝炎儿童组成。在肝活检前采集血样。采用 METAVIR 量表进行组织学评估。外周淋巴细胞用 CD56 抗原、KIR 和 NKG2D 抗原的单克隆抗体处理。采用流式细胞术检测阳性细胞比例和平均荧光强度 (MFI)。根据肝脂肪变性的存在评估结果。在伴有肝脂肪变性的儿童组中，观察到平均 AST 活性和 AST-血小板比值指数 (APRI) 显著升高。这些儿童的 CD158e 的 MFI 显著升高，而 NKG2D 的 MFI 显著降低。所有 CHC 患者的 NKG2D 的 MFI 均显著高于对照组。在单因素分析中，CD158i、KIR2D 和 APRI 表达细胞的比例是肝脂肪变性的独立预测因子，在逻辑回归中是体重指数。NK 细胞受体的表达在并存的脂肪变性中发生改变，可能影响 CHC 的长期预后。
