Expansion of dysfunctional CD56-CD16+ NK cells in chronic hepatitis B patients

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Natural killer (NK) cells are primary innate effector cells that play an important role in the control of human viral infections. During chronic viral infection, NK cells undergo significant changes in phenotype, function, and subset distribution, including the appearance of CD56-CD16+ (CD56-) NK cells, previously identified in chronic human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus infection. However, the presence of CD56- NK cells in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) remains unknown. METHODS: Phenotype and function of CD56- NK cells from patients with CHB (n=28) were assessed using flow cytometry and in vitro stimulation with HBV antigen. RESULTS: CHB patients had a higher frequency of CD56- NK cells compared to healthy controls in peripheral blood (6.2 vs 1.4%, p