ABSTRACT
Objective:To explore the relationship between CD244 and the phenotype and function of CD56bright NK cells of patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis.Methods: PBMCs were isolated from peripheral blood by density gradient centrifugation.The expression of CD244,CD94,NKG2D on the CD56bright NK cells from the active pulmonary tuberculosis patients and healthy controls was detected by flow cytometry.And then analyzed the relationship of the expression of CD244 with Tim3,CD27,CD62L,CCR7,IFN-γ and CD107a in CD56bright NK cells by flow cytometry.Results: The expression of CD244 on the CD56bright NK cells showed no significant difference between the patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis and healthy controls without MTB antigen.The expression of CD244 was significantly increased on CD56bright NK cells of patients with tuberculosis stimulated with MTB antigen.The expression of CD94 and NKG2D on CD56bright NK cells showed no difference between patients and healthy controls.The proportion of Tim3+ cells in CD244+CD56bright NK cells was significantly higher than CD244-CD56bright NK cells.While the expression of CD62L and IFN-γ decreased significantly in CD244+CD56bright NK cells.The expression of CD107a on CD56bright NK cells was not significantly different between CD244+ cells and CD244-cells.Conclusion: The expression of CD244 on CD56bright NK cells in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis increased significantly,maybe inhibit IFN-γ co-work with Tim3.CD244 has nothing to do with degranulation of CD56bright NK cells.