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NK Cell Deregulation in HBV Patients

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
Hepatitis B Virus
Interventions
Other: boold sample Control group
Other: blood sample CHB patients
Registration Number
NCT03761875
Lead Sponsor
University Hospital, Limoges
Brief Summary

Natural Killer (NK) cells play a large role in the innate immune response as they are equipped to kill infected or tumor cells. They express a panel of activating and inhibitory receptors that regulate the destruction of the target cell. Many reports have shown that NK cell function is suppressed in CHB patients. Exhaustion occurs when activating receptors become over stimulated leading to the loss of NK function. The investigators hypothesize that NK cells are rendered dysfunctional/ exhausted by HBV. The primary objective is to determined the phenotypical modifications and mechanisms associated to NK cell dysfunction, during different phases of CHB infection, in not treated patients.

Detailed Description

Using a previous cohort from the Limoges Hospital, the investigators have identified by multi-parametric flow cytometry phenotypic, cytokine and signaling molecules that are altered in NK cells from CHB patients during the inactive phase. Phenotypic changes observed include the downregulation of CD160, NKp30, CD16 and Tim-3. The expansion of 'adaptive' NK cells (FCεRg- NKG2C+ or CD57hi), and the upregulation of CD107a (steady state), NKG2D and 41BB. Functional changes include the decrease in the levels of IFNγ, TNFα and MIP1β. Cellular metabolism is now recognized to regulate functional properties of immune cells such as T or NK cells. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) kinase is a key regulator of cellular metabolism, integrating environmental cues to control downstream metabolic pathways. mTOR is the catalytic subunit of two different complexes: mTORC1 and mTORC2, the activity of which can be measured by measuring the level of phosphorylation of the proteins S6 and Akt respectively. The lab has previously shown that the mTOR pathway regulates NK cell development and activation 2. The investigators have observed that pS6 and pAkt are also decreased in CHB patients.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
80
Inclusion Criteria

Patients must meet all of the following inclusion criteria to be eligible for participation in this study:

  • Male or female, age ≥18 years
  • HBV infection or chronic HBV infection
  • Willing and able to provide written informed consent

Healthy donors must meet all of the following inclusion criteria to be eligible for participation in this study:

  • Male or female, age between 18 and 50 years
  • Willing and able to provide written informed consent
Exclusion Criteria
  • Subjects who meet any of the following exclusion criteria are not to be enrolled in this study:
  • Infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
  • Chronic liver disease of a non-HBV etiology
  • Immune or cancerous disease

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Control groupboold sample Control groupa blood sample
CHB patientsblood sample CHB patientsa blood sample is done during a follow-up visit
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Using a multiparameter flow cytometry approach, we will assess the mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of the listed molecules expressed on Natural Killer cellsAt inclusion, day 0
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Limoges Hospital

🇫🇷

Limoges, France

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