[Peripheral NK and NKT cell in pediatric subjects with chronic HBV infection].

Objective: To investigate the characteristic of NK cells and NKT cells in HBV infected pediatric subjects for evaluation of their clinical implication.
Methods: Fresh peripheral blood samples were obtained from 42 HBV-infected pediatric cases and 15 healthy counterparts. NK cells and NKT cells were analyzed by flow cytometry assay. The clinical data such as serum ALT level and HBV viral load was simultaneously recorded from each HBV carrier.
Results: HBV-infected children had an obviously increasing percentage of NK cells 12.071% +/- 7.100%, there were significant differences between the children with chronic B hepatitis and the healthy children (P <0.05). As far as percentage of NKT 3.048% +/- 1.937% was concerned, there were not differences. Furthermore the association was not found between serum HBV viral load level and the NK lymphocyte.
Conclusion: Our data may provide valuable information of NK and NKT lymphocyte for evaluation of disease progression of HBV infected children NKI cells.