Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the changes in natural killer cell subsets marked with CD27 and CD11b for HBV carrier mice. Methods: The pAAV-HBVl.2 plasmid was injected into the tail vein of C57BL/6 mice by hydrodynamic injection method to construct HBV-carrier model group and empty vector as the control group. Liver function and virological examination at different time points were used to judge the construction of HBV- plasmid carrier animal model. Flow cytometry was used to detect the frequency of NK cells and CD11b combined with CD27 NK cell subsets in spleen and liver. GraphPad Prism software was used for statistical analysis. Results: HBV-carrier mouse model was successfully constructed. There were no statistically significant difference in NK cell frequencies between spleen and liver of HBV carrier mice (P> 0.05), compared to control group. NK cells were divided into four subsets with in combination to CD27 and CD11b: CD11b(+)CD27(-)(CD11b(+)SP), CD11b(+)CD27(+)(DP), CD11b(-)CD27(+)(CD27(+)SP) and CD11b-CD27-(DN). Furthermore, the spleen of HBV-carrier mice had no statistically significant difference (P> 0.05) with the frequency of the four NK-cell subsets. The frequency of DN NK cell subsets was significantly increased in the liver of HBV carrier mice than control group (P< 0.001); however, the frequency of CD11b(+)SP cell subsets was significantly decreased (P < 0.05).There were no statistical significance in the frequency comparison between NK subgroups of DP and CD27(+)SP NK cell subsets (P> 0.05). Conclusion: HBV-carrier mice with abnormal distribution of hepatic NK cell subsets significantly increased and decreased the frequency of DN NK cell subsets and CD11b(+)SP cell subsets.