Expressions of HLA-G receptors on NK cells,CD4+ T cells and B cells from peripheral blood of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis and its clinical significance

Objective To investigate the expressions of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-G receptors,CD158d(KIR2DL4),CD85j(ILT-2) and CD85d(ILT-4) on natural killer (NK) cells,CD4+ T cells and B cells from peripheral blood of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC),and analyze whether HLA-G-based immunoregulation pathways of main lymphocyte subsets are impaired or not.Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from PBC patients and healthy controls were isolated.CD4+ T cells were stimulated by immunobeads;the expressions of 3 kinds of HLA-G receptors on NK cells,CD4+ T cells and B cells were analyzed by flow cytometry.Results Compared to healthy controls,the expressions of HLA-G receptors CD158d and CD85j on NK cells and CD158d on CD4+ T cells from PBC patients significantly decreased with or without activation.Conclusions The expressions of HLA-G receptors on immune effector cells from PBC patients are down-regulated,indicating that HLA-G-based immunoregula-tion pathway is impaired in PBC patients,and the HLA-G molecules may thus contribute to the pathogenesis and progression of PBC.