MAGT1-mediated disturbance of Mg(2+) homeostasis lead to exhausted of HBV-infected NK and CD8(+) T cells.

The magnesium transporter 1 (MAGT1) is a critical regulator of basal intracellular free magnesium ([Mg(2+)]i) levels. It has been shown that MAGT1 was involved in the disorder in Mg(2+) homeostasis after Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. Here, we identified the effects of MAGT1-mediated disturbance of Mg(2+) homeostasis on chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected natural killer (NK) and CD8(+) T cells. The expression of MAGT1 was gradually decreased with the increase of infected time in CD8(+) T cells, but not with that in NK cells, of the patients. Decreased level of intracellular free Mg(2+) ([Mg(2+)]i) leads to defective expression of programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) and the NK activating receptor (NKG2D) in NK and CD8(+) T cells. Our data illustrate that [Mg(2+)]i plays a key role in control of HBV infection.