Hepatitis B core protein promotes liver cancer metastasis through miR-382-5p/DLC-1 axis.

The hepatitis B virus core protein (HBc), also named core antigen, is well-known for its key role in viral capsid formation and virus replication. Recently, studies showed that HBc has the potential to control cell biology activity by regulating host gene expression. Here, we utilized miRNA microarray to identify 24 upregulated miRNAs and 21 downregulated miRNAs in HBc-expressed HCC cells, which were involved in multiple biological processes, including cell motility. Consistently, the in vitro transwell assay and the in vivo tail-vein injection model showed HBc promotion on HCC metastasis. Further, the miRNA-target gene network analysis displayed that the deleted in liver cancer (DLC-1) gene, an important negative regulator for cell motility, was potentially targeted by several differentially expressed miRNAs in HBc-introduced cells. Introduction of miRNAs mimics or inhibitors and 3'UTR luciferase activity assay proved that miR-382-5p efficiently suppressed DLC-1 expression and its 3'-UTR luciferase reporter activity. Importantly, cotransfection of miR-382-5p mimics/inhibitors and the DLC-1 expression vector almost abrogated HBc promotion on cell motility, indicating that the miR-382-5p/DLC-1 axis is important for mediating HBc-enhanced HCC motility. Clinical HCC samples also showed a negative correlation between miR-382-5p and DLC-1 expression level. Furthermore, HBc-positive HCC tissues showed high miR-382-5p level and reduced DLC-1 expression. In conclusion, our findings revealed that HBc promoted HCC motility by regulating the miR-382-5p/DLC-1 axis, which might provide a novel target for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Elastic and viscoelastic mechanical properties of brain tissues on the implanting trajectory of sub-thalamic nucleus stimulation.

Corresponding to pre-puncture and post-puncture insertion, elastic and viscoelastic mechanical properties of brain tissues on the implanting trajectory of sub-thalamic nucleus stimulation are investigated, respectively. Elastic mechanical properties in pre-puncture are investigated through pre-puncture needle insertion experiments using whole porcine brains. A linear polynomial and a second order polynomial are fitted to the average insertion force in pre-puncture. The Young's modulus in pre-puncture is calculated from the slope of the two fittings. Viscoelastic mechanical properties of brain tissues in post-puncture insertion are investigated through indentation stress relaxation tests for six interested regions along a planned trajectory. A linear viscoelastic model with a Prony series approximation is fitted to the average load trace of each region using Boltzmann hereditary integral. Shear relaxation moduli of each region are calculated using the parameters of the Prony series approximation. The results show that, in pre-puncture insertion, needle force almost increases linearly with needle displacement. Both fitting lines can perfectly fit the average insertion force. The Young's moduli calculated from the slope of the two fittings are worthy of trust to model linearly or nonlinearly instantaneous elastic responses of brain tissues, respectively. In post-puncture insertion, both region and time significantly affect the viscoelastic behaviors. Six tested regions can be classified into three categories in stiffness. Shear relaxation moduli decay dramatically in short time scales but equilibrium is never truly achieved. The regional and temporal viscoelastic mechanical properties in post-puncture insertion are valuable for guiding probe insertion into each region on the implanting trajectory.

Endonasal Endoscopic Transsphenoidal Approach to Lesions of the Sellar Region in Pediatric Patients.

OBJECTIVE: Endoscopic endonasal (transnasal) transsphenoidal approach (EETA) for management of sellar lesions has gained popularity as a reliable and atraumatic method. Most reported studies of EETA have focused on surgical outcome in adult patients; and there are few reports to describe outcome in pediatric patients. The authors report our early experience of 11 patients aged 14 to 18 years managed with EETA to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of EETA in the pediatric. METHODS: Retrospective review of hospital records of 11 pediatric patients who underwent endonasal endoscopic transsphenoidal approach for resection of sellar region lesion over 2 years. Age, sex, symptoms, tumor size, extent of tumor resection, clinical outcome, and surgical complications were reviewed. RESULTS: Total resection was achieved in 9 (81.8%) patients, subtotal resection in 2 (18.2%), and no patient had partial or insufficient resection. All (100%) patients achieved visual remission, 7 (87.5%) of 8 patients with hyperhormone preoperative had endocrinological remission. Two (18.2%) patients incurred temporary diabetes insipidus (DI) postoperatively. One (9.1%) patient incurred postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage which resolved following lumbar drainage. Three (27.3%) patients developed hypopituitarism needed hormone replacement therapy. There were no cases of meningitis, intracranial hematoma, or death. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic endonasal (transnasal) transsphenoidal approach (EETA) provides a safe and effective surgical option with low morbidity and mortality in pediatric patients.

Intraoperative rapid molecular diagnosis aids glioma subtyping and guides precise surgical resection.

OBJECTIVE: The molecular era of glioma diagnosis and treatment has arrived, and a single rapid histopathology is no longer sufficient for surgery. This study sought to present an automatic integrated gene detection system (AIGS), which enables rapid intraoperative detection of IDH/TERTp mutations. METHODS: A total of 78 patients with gliomas were included in this study. IDH/TERTp mutations were detected intraoperatively using AIGS in 41 of these patients, and they were guided to surgical resection (AIGS detection group). The remaining 37 underwent histopathology-guided conventional surgical resection (non-AIGS detection group). The clinical utility of this technique was evaluated by comparing the accuracy of glioma subtype diagnosis before and after TERTp mutation results were obtained by pathologists and the extent of resection (EOR) and patient prognosis for molecular pathology-guided glioma surgery. RESULTS: With NGS/Sanger sequencing and chromosome detection as the gold standard, the accuracy of AIGS results was 100%. And the timing was well matched to the intraoperative rapid pathology report. After obtaining the TERTp mutation detection results, the accuracy of the glioma subtype diagnosis made by the pathologists increased by 19.51%. Molecular pathology-guided surgical resection of gliomas significantly increased EOR (99.06% vs. 93.73%, p < 0.0001) and also improved median OS (26.77 vs. 13.47 months, p = 0.0289) and median PFS (15.90 vs. 10.57 months, p = 0.0181) in patients with glioblastoma. INTERPRETATION: Using AIGS intraoperatively to detect IDH/TERTp mutations to accurately diagnose glioma subtypes can help achieve maximum safe resection of gliomas, which in turn improves the survival prognosis of patients.

Fracture healing with osteopathy in traditional Mongolian medicine.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the concept and norm of fracture healing with osteopathy in traditional Mongolian medicine (TMM). METHODS: Based on the correspondence between man and the universe (including psychosomatic integration) in fracture healing with osteopathy in TMM, we used modern physio-psychological and biomechanical principles and methods to probe the integrated, dynamic and functional characteristics of fracture healing. RESULTS: Based on the integration of limbs and the body, unification of the body and function and harmony of man and nature (including psychosomatic integration), fracture healing with osteopathy in TMM comprises the concept of natural functional healing of fractures, and follows the norm of considering physiological healing and psychological function as well as limb healing and motor function. CONCLUSION: Fracture healing with osteopathy in TMM is characterized by a lack of trauma without future complications. This therapy makes the concept of fracture healing develop in the direction of humanity, behaviorism and integration.

The first prospective application of AIGS real-time fluorescence PCR in precise diagnosis and treatment of meningioma: Case report.

Background: The emergence of the new WHO classification standard in 2021 incorporated molecular characteristics into the diagnosis system for meningiomas, making the diagnosis and treatment of meningiomas enter the molecular era. Recent findings: At present, there are still some problems in the clinical molecular detection of meningioma, such as low attention, excessive detection, and a long cycle. In order to solve these clinical problems, we realized the intraoperative molecular diagnosis of meningioma by combining real-time fluorescence PCR and AIGS, which is also the first known product applied to the intraoperative molecular diagnosis of meningioma. Implications for practice: We applied AIGS to detect and track a patient with TERTp mutant meningioma, summarized the process of intraoperative molecular diagnosis, and expounded the significance of intraoperative molecular diagnosis under the new classification standard, hoping to optimize the clinical decision-making of meningioma through the diagnosis and treatment plan of this case.

Application of Intraoperative Rapid Molecular Diagnosis in Precision Surgery for Glioma: Mimic the World Health Organization CNS5 Integrated Diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: With the advent of the molecular era, the diagnosis and treatment systems of glioma have also changed. A single histological type cannot be used for prognosis grade. Only by combining molecular diagnosis can precision medicine be realized. OBJECTIVE: To develop an automatic integrated gene detection system (AIGS) for intraoperative detection in glioma and to explore its positive role in intraoperative diagnosis and treatment. METHODS: We analyzed the isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) mutation status of 105 glioma samples and evaluated the product's potential value for diagnosis; 37 glioma samples were detected intraoperatively to evaluate the feasibility of using the product in an actual situation. A blinding method was used to evaluate the effect of the detection technology on the accuracy of intraoperative histopathological diagnosis by pathologists. We also reviewed the current research status in the field of intraoperative molecular diagnosis. RESULTS: Compared with next-generation sequencing, the accuracy of AIGS in detecting IDH1 was 100% for 105 samples and 37 intraoperative samples. The blind diagnostic results were compared between the 2 groups, and the molecular information provided by AIGS increased the intraoperative diagnostic accuracy of glioma by 16.2%. Using the technical advantages of multipoint synchronous detection, we determined the tumor molecular margins for 5 IDH-positive patients and achieved accurate resection at the molecular level. CONCLUSION: AIGS can quickly and accurately provide molecular information during surgery. This methodology not only improves the accuracy of intraoperative pathological diagnosis but also provides an important molecular basis for determining tumor margins to facilitate precision surgery.

Biological macro-idea and criterion of osteopathic fracture immobilization in China's traditional Mongolian medicine.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the biological macro-idea and criterion of osteopathic fracture immobilization in China's traditional Mongolian medicine. METHODS: Based on biological naturalism regarding the relationship between man and universe (including psychosomatic integration) in osteopathic fracture immobilization in China's traditional Mongolian medicine, we used modern physiopsychological and biomechanical principles and methods to investigate the biological macro-characteristics of humanization, behaviorism, and wholism in "dynamic" fixation of fractures. RESULTS: Osteopathic fracture immobilization in China's traditional Mongolian medicine is based on the fixation criterion of macro-idea and method as well as on geometry, mechanics, motion, and stress and psychological stability in "non-sheltered fixation" of fractures contained in the life view of nature, regarding the relationship between man and universe (including psychosomatic integration) and on harmony between the limbs and the whole body, between body and function, and between man and nature. CONCLUSIONS: Osteopathic fracture immobilization in China's traditional Mongolian medicine is fixation without trauma or shelter. The principle and method of whole, dynamic, and functional fixation of fractures is not only radical, but also represents a new direction for developing the principle and method of fracture immobilization.

Multiregional viscoelastic properties of the porcine brain in the horizontal plane.

Comparison between the corpus callosum and different regions of corona radiata in the horizontal plane was tested in the article. A series of flat-punch indentation experiments were conducted on the corpus callosum and different regions of corona radiata with different loading rates on the porcine brain. A linear viscoelastic model with prony series approximation was fitted to the force-time data of all regions. The experiment data from different loading rates demonstrated that both the corona radiata and corpus callosum increased in stiffness with the increasing loading rates. The corona radiata seems to be stiffer than the corpus callosum in the horizontal plane. During the period of relaxation, statistical comparisons among the different regions showed that the posterior region of the corona radiata seems to be stiffer than the anterior and superior.

The First Case Report of a Patient With Oligodendroglioma Harboring CHEK2 Germline Mutation.

Introduction: CHEK2 (Checkpoint kinase 2) germline mutations were associated with an elevated risk of breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and other familiar cancers. Loss-of-function variants in CHEK2 are known to be pathogenic. Germline CHEK2 mutations have also been observed in medulloblastoma and primary glioblastomas. Currently, there is no direct evidence supporting the relationship of CHEK2 with central nervous system tumors. Case presentation: A case of an oligodendroglioma patient harboring the germline CHEK2 p.R137* mutation was reported. CHEK2 p.R137* mutation occurred in the forkhead-associated domain. Given the absence of other known genetic predisposing risk factors, we considered that oligodendroglioma might be associated with the CHEK2 mutation. The patient in our case might have a high risk of breast cancer and other multiple primary tumors. Her siblings and offspring would have a 50% chance of having the same variant. Conclusion: We reported a case of an oligodendroglioma patient with a family history of gastrointestinal tumors harboring the germline CHEK2 pathogenic variation. This is the first report of the association between the CHEK2 pathogenic variation and brain tumors that warrants further validation in larger cohorts.

Phosphoinositide-Binding Protein TIPE1 Promotes Alternative Activation of Macrophages and Tumor Progression via PIP3/Akt/TGFß Axis.

Macrophages perform key and distinct functions in maintaining tissue homeostasis by finely tuning their activation state. Within the tumor microenvironment, macrophages are reshaped to drive tumor progression. Here we report that tumor necrosis factor α-induced protein 8-like 1 (TIPE1) is highly expressed in macrophages and that depletion of TIPE1 impedes alternative activation of macrophages. TIPE1 enhanced activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway in macrophages by directly binding with and regulating the metabolism of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) and phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate (PIP3). Accordingly, inhibition of the PI3K/Akt pathway significantly attenuated the effect of TIPE1 on macrophage alternative activation. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) in human liver cancer and melanoma tissues showed significantly upregulated TIPE1 expression that negatively correlated with patient survival. In vitro and in vivo, TIPE1 knockdown in macrophages retarded the growth and metastasis of liver cancer and melanoma. Furthermore, blockade or depletion of TGFß signaling in macrophages abrogated the effects of TIPE1 on tumor cell growth and migration. Together, these results highlight that the phosphoinositide-related signaling pathway is involved in reprogramming TAMs to optimize the microenvironment for cancer progression. SIGNIFICANCE: This work provides insight into the fine tuning of macrophage polarization and identifies a potential target for macrophage-based antitumor therapy.

Intracavity generation of glioma stem cell-specific CAR macrophages primes locoregional immunity for postoperative glioblastoma therapy.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) remains incurable despite aggressive implementation of multimodal treatments after surgical debulking. Almost all patients with GBM relapse within a narrow margin around the initial resected lesion due to postsurgery residual glioma stem cells (GSCs). Tracking and eradicating postsurgery residual GSCs is critical for preventing postoperative relapse of this devastating disease, yet effective strategies remain elusive. Here, we report a cavity-injectable nanoporter-hydrogel superstructure that creates GSC-specific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) macrophages/microglia (MΦs) surrounding the cavity to prevent GBM relapse. Specifically, we demonstrate that the CAR gene-laden nanoporter in the hydrogel can introduce GSC-targeted CAR genes into MΦ nuclei after intracavity delivery to generate CAR-MΦs in mouse models of GBM. These CAR-MΦs were able to seek and engulf GSCs and clear residual GSCs by stimulating an adaptive antitumor immune response in the tumor microenvironment and prevented postoperative glioma relapse by inducing long-term antitumor immunity in mice. In an orthotopic patient-derived glioblastoma humanized mouse model, the combined treatment with nanoporter-hydrogel superstructure and CD47 antibody increased the frequency of positive immune responding cells and suppressed the negative immune regulating cells, conferring a robust tumoricidal immunity surrounding the postsurgical cavity and inhibiting postoperative glioblastoma relapse. Therefore, our work establishes a locoregional treatment strategy for priming cancer stem cell-specific tumoricidal immunity with broad application in patients suffering from recurrent malignancies.

[Neuroendoscope-assisted surgical treatment of spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas].

OBJECTIVE: To study the utility of neuroendoscope-assisted surgery in the treatment of spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas. METHODS: From November 2008 to November 2010, 8 cases of spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas underwent neuroendoscope-assisted surgical treatment by a hemilaminectomy approach. Retrospective analyses were performed for their clinical manifestations, imaging findings, surgical approaches, postoperative recovery and follow-up profiles. RESULTS: All were of single fistula. Under the assistance of neuroendoscope, the fistulas were found intra-operatively and the draining veins disconnected successfully. The results of post-operative angiography showed the disappearance of all draining veins. After a follow-up period of 3 - 35 months, 2 cases became asymptomatic, 5 cases improved obviously and 1 case had no change. CONCLUSION: Neuroendoscope-assisted surgery is mini-invasive, safe and effective in the treatment of spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas.

[The methylation analysis of EMP3 and PCDH-gamma-A11 gene in human glioma].

OBJECTIVES: To study the relationship between promoter methylation and mRNA expressions of EMP3 and PCDH-gamma-A11 genes in human glioma, and to analyze the regulation mechanism of promoter methylation in the progression of glioma. METHODS: The promoter methylation of EMP3 and PCDH-gamma-A11 was studied by a methylation specific PCR in 88 primary astrocytoma, 10 normal brain tissues and 2 glioma cell lines. The mRNA expressions were detected by real-time PCR in 30 primary glioma and 10 normal brain tissues. The correlations of their promoter methylation, mRNA expressions and clinicopathologic characteristics were analyzed. The promoter methylation were also detected in U251 and SHG-44 cell lines. RESULTS: The promoter methylation of EMP3 was detected in 42 tumors (47.7%) and the methylation of PCDH-gamma-A11 was detected in 76 tumors (86.4%). Their mRNA expressions were all significantly decreased in different pathological grade astrocytomas compared to the normal brain tissues (P < 0.01). Their expressions were suppressed but could be reactivated by 5-aza-deoxycytidine in U251 and SHG-44 cell lines. CONCLUSIONS: The promoter methylation of EMP3 and PCDH-gamma-A11 genes may lead to the down-regulation of their mRNA levels in glioma. The promoter methylation and mRNA expressions of EMP3 and PCDH-gamma-A11 are closely related with the malignant development of glioma. The promoter methylation of the two genes may provide clues to evaluation of glioma malignancy as well as its prognosis. It also gives us an insight for future glioma medical therapy with a demethylating agent.

Macroscopic model for biological fixation and its uncovering idea in Chinese Mongolian traditional osteopathy.

Splintage external fixation in Chinese Mongolian osteopathy is a biological macroscopic model. In this model, the ideas of self-life "unity of mind and body" and vital natural "correspondence of nature and human" combine the physiological and psychological self-fixation with supplementary external fixation of fracture using small splints. This model implies macroscopic ideas of uncovering fixation and healing: structural stability integrating geometrical "dynamic" stability with mechanical "dynamic" equilibrium and the stability of state integrating statics with dynamics, and osteoblasts with osteoclasts, and psychological stability integrating closed and open systems of human and nature. These ideas indicate a trend of development in modern osteopathy.

Multiregional viscoelastic characterization of the corona radiata in the sagittal plane of the porcine brain.

Detailed finite element (FE) models are used as promising tools to investigate traumatic brain injuries, although their accuracy is strongly dependent on the characterization of the mechanical behaviors of the different anatomic structures in the brain. In some cases, when the FE models require finer spatial resolution, the heterogeneous and anisotropic corona radiata cannot be taken as a homogeneous whole body. In this work, indentation experiments were conducted on the anterior, superior, and posterior regions of the corona radiata in the sagittal plane. To determine the parameters available for computational modeling purposes, a linear viscoelastic model using the Boltzmann hereditary integral was fitted to the force-time data of the three regions. In the indentation tests, the superior region appeared to be the stiffest, while no significant differences were observed between the anterior and posterior regions until the viscoelastic tissue reached equilibrium. During the period of relaxation, statistical comparisons among the different regions indicated significant differences between the superior and anterior regions, and between the superior and posterior regions. This work complements existing investigations into the anatomic heterogeneity of the brain, and contributes toward improving the spatial resolution of future computational models. Graphical abstract Relaxation functions of different regions based on the Prony series parameters and the multiregional Kolmogorov-Smirnov comparisons (*p < 0.017). The anisotropy and interregional differences of the corona radiata observed in this study are supplementary to the previous explorations of the mechanical properties of different brain anatomic structures.

Genistein inhibits human papillary thyroid cancer cell detachment, invasion and metastasis.

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most commonly diagnosed endocrine cancer, and those with BRAFV600E mutation have high recurrence rate and less favorable clinical behavior. Genistein having anti-carcinoma effects in various types of carcinomas as an estrogen analog, but the mechanism of Genistein in the progression of PTC remains unknown. Genistein significantly inhibits the proliferation and the invasion (P < 0.01), and the apoptosis (P < 0.001) of all tumor cell lines, which was probably due to the inducing of the arrest in G2/M phase of the cell cycle (P < 0.001). The anti-proliferation and apoptosis inducing effects are more obvious in BCPAP, IHH4 cell lines harboring BRAFV600E mutation. Genistein significantly decreased the invasion of PTC cell lines and partially reverses epithelial mesenchymal transition in PTC cell lines. Functional study indicated that small interfering RNA (siRNA) knockdown of ß-catenin significantly reverses the effect of genistein on EMT at protein levels. In conclusion, for the first time, our study suggested that genistein has anticarcinoma effect for PTC patients in the range of 2.5 and 80 µg/ml in thyroid carcinoma cells, which was probably through cytoplasmic translocation of ß-catenin. Further study will be needed to determine whether genistein could be used in clinical trial of high-risk PTC.

Clinical presentation and treatment of distal posterior inferior cerebellar artery aneurysms: report on 5 cases.

BACKGROUND: Aneurysms of the PICA are uncommon. Most of them arise at the PICA origin from the VA, whereas distal PICA aneurysms are exceptional. A retrospective analysis of 457 patients with SAH treated in our hospital found 5 patients with 6 distal PICA aneurysms (approximately 1% of SAHs). CASE DESCRIPTION: All patients were female, with a mean age of 54 years. A 4-vessel cerebral angiogram performed immediately after admission showed an aneurysm located on the distal PICA. One patient was treated by an endovascular approach, and 3 patients were treated by surgical approach. The last patient had 2 distal high-flow aneurysms located on the distal PICA, which was the main arterial feeder of an AVM. The patient refused surgery or endovascular therapy. All 4 treated patients had good outcome at 3-month clinical follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Distal PICA aneurysms are exceptionally rare and may be treated successfully with surgical or endovascular techniques. The therapeutic strategy, either surgical or endovascular, should be selected according to the condition of the patient, the arterial and aneurysmal morphology, and the preference of the medical team.

Tim-3 expression predicts the abnormal innate immune status and poor prognosis of glioma patients.

Malignant glioma, the most common and devastating primary brain tumor, has serious effects on human health with high risk of recurrence and short survival periods. Recently, the exploitation of immunological mechanisms shed new lights for developing novel therapeutic strategies for glioma pathogenesis. Tim-3, a member of T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain family, has been involved in multiple diseases, including tumor, by regulating the viability and function of immunocytes. In the present study, we detected Tim-3 expression on peripheral innate immunocytes from glioma patients and analyzed their correlation with clinical indices. We found that the number of CD3-CD56+ NK cells decreased in glioma patients. Compared with healthy controls, glioma patients had higher Tim-3 expression on peripheral CD3-CD56+ NK cells and CD14+ monocytes. Tim-3+ NK cells had decreased capability of IFN-r secretion, while Tim-3+ monocytes showed a M2-like phenotype. Importantly, Tim-3 level on both NK cells and monocytes positively correlated with the ratio of Ki-67+ tumor cells. Moreover, patients with high percentage of Tim-3+ monocytes showed high risk of recurrence or death. Our present work gives new insights into the innate immune mechanisms in glioma and might provide new evidences for the clinical practice of Tim-3-based immunotherapy in glioma.

Decreased Siglec-9 Expression on Natural Killer Cell Subset Associated With Persistent HBV Replication.

Siglec-9 is an MHC-independent inhibitory receptor selectively expressed on CD56dim NK cells. Its role in infection diseases has not been investigated yet. Here, we studied the potential regulatory roles of NK Siglec-9 in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection. Flow cytometry evaluated the expression of Siglec-9 and other receptors on peripheral NK cells. Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect Siglec-9 ligands on liver biopsy tissues and cultured hepatocyte cell lines. Siglec-9 blocking assay was carried out and cytokine synthesis and CD107a degranulation was detected by flow cytometry. Compared to healthy donors, CHB patients had decreased Siglec-9+ NK cells, which reversely correlated with serum hepatitis B e antigen and HBV DNA titer. Siglec-9 expression on NK cells from patients achieving sustained virological response recovered to the level of normal donors. Neutralization of Siglec-9 restored cytokine synthesis and degranulation of NK cells from CHB patients. Immunofluorescence staining showed increased expression of Siglec-9 ligands in liver biopsy tissues from CHB patients and in hepatocyte cell lines infected with HBV or stimulated with inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 or TGF-ß). These findings identify Siglec-9 as a negative regulator for NK cells contributing to HBV persistence and the intervention of Siglec-9 signaling might be of potentially translational significance.