Chronic HBV infection impairs the glucose metabolism and effector function of NK cells via HBsAg/IL-15/mTOR axis.

ABSTRACT: Natural killer (NK) cell function is impaired in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection; however, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Here, we collected the blood samples from healthy donors (HDs) and patients with CHB, and then analyzed the characteristics of NK cells by RNA-seq analysis, flow cytometry, Seahorse assay. HBV-carrier mice were used to confirm the findings in vivo. We found that the dysfunction of NK cells in peripheral blood of patients with CHB was associated with the disturbance of glycolysis. Further investigation showed chronic HBV infection impaired the activation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) in NK cells, resulting in decreased expression of molecules involved in glycolysis, including HIF-1α and GLUT1. Mechanistically, we found tha

SUBMITTER: Yu Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12518832 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature