STAT3 directly regulates NKp46 transcription in NK cells of HBeAg-negative CHB patients.

NK cells play an important role in early control of HBV infection. The function of NK cells is inhibited in chronic hepatitis B virus (CHB) infection, although the underlying mechanism remains unknown. We found that the expression of decreased in peripheral NK cells of CHB patients, and was associated with low levels of degranulation and IFN-γ secretion. In addition, duanyu18133 levels were positively correlated with cytolysis-associated molecules and antiviral cytokines, such as CD107a, granzyme B, perforin, and IFN-γ. HBsAg directly inhibited the expression and activation of duanyu18133 in NK cells, and knocking down duanyu18133 expression in NK cells inhibited proliferation, decreased cyclin d1 levels, and suppressed responsiveness to IL-21 stimulation. Furthermore, duanyu18133 directly bound to the promoter of NKp46, an important activating receptor of NK cells, to regulate its transcription and expression. Taken together, our findings indicate that duanyu18133 is an important positive regulator of NK cells, and provide a new mechanism of NK cell dysfunction in CHB.

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