Abstract
Background:Natural Killer (NK) cells have crucial roles in immune responses against malignant transformation including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The NKG2D receptor has a critical role in the NK recognition of target cells. Aim:We assessed NKG2D receptor expression as a diagnostic biomarker for HCC detection and progression in Egyptian patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related HCC. Methods:We classified 81 patients into three groups: chronic hepatitis (21), cirrhotic (30) and HCC (30) patients, with 36 individuals enrolled to the control group. We analyzed NK levels in peripheral blood and NKG2D receptor expression in NK cells using flow cytometry. Results: We observed a significant decrease in NKG2D (CD314) expression on circulating NK cells and frequency of NK cells expressing NKG2D (CD314) in HCC patients. Also, in patients, larger foci lesions significantly correlated with decreased NK cell numbers. Multiple foci numbers and patients with a Child score C significantly correlated with decreased circulating NK cells expressing NKG2D and decreased NKG2D expression. Conclusion:The percentage of NK cells in peripheral blood and NKG2D receptor expression could function as potential biomarkers for HCC detection and progression.
Highlights
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a pronounced health challenge and is ranked sixth as the most common global cancer (Forner et al, 2018)
The percentage of Natural Killer (NK) cells in peripheral blood and NKG2D receptor expression could function as potential biomarkers for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) detection and progression
alpha fetoprotein (AFP) was significantly elevated in the HCC group compared with the control (p 0.001), chronic hepatitis (p 0.001), and cirrhotic patient groups (p = 0.034)
Summary
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a pronounced health challenge and is ranked sixth as the most common global cancer (Forner et al, 2018). As the main cell type of the innate immune system, natural killer (NK) cells exert crucial roles in the body’s immune response against the hepatitis B virus (HBV) or HCV infected cells and malignant cells (Juengpanich et al, 2019). Aim: We assessed NKG2D receptor expression as a diagnostic biomarker for HCC detection and progression in Egyptian patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related HCC. Results: We observed a significant decrease in NKG2D (CD314) expression on circulating NK cells and frequency of NK cells expressing NKG2D (CD314) in HCC patients. Multiple foci numbers and patients with a Child score C significantly correlated with decreased circulating NK cells expressing NKG2D and decreased NKG2D expression. Conclusion: The percentage of NK cells in peripheral blood and NKG2D receptor expression could function as potential biomarkers for HCC detection and progression
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