ArticleCytotherapy2026
Expanded adaptive NKG2C+ NK cells exhibit potent ADCC and functional responses against HBV-infected hepatoma cell lines.
Article in Cytotherapy, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- The immunoecology of occult hepatitis B virus infection: genetic remodeling and the immune-mediated microcosm.Frontiers in immunology · 2026Review
- Interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis B in children: an immunological perspective.Frontiers in immunology · 2026Review
- The Expanding Role of HLA-E in Host Defense: A Target for Broadly Applicable Vaccines and Immunotherapies.Cells · 2025Review
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20 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundHepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a significant global health challenge, leading to chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Natural killer (NK) cells play an important role in the clearance of HBV-infected cells, but their efficacy is often compromised during chronic infection. Adaptive NK cells, characterized by NKG2C expression and enhanced functional responses, represent a promising therapeutic avenue for enhancing anti-HBV immunity and responses to HBV-driven cancers.
methodsWe applied an established protocol, involving K562-HLA-E expressing feeder cells and cytokines (IL-2), for the expansion of adaptive NK cells from cryopreserved T- and B cell depleted peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) derived from donors with chronic HBV infection alone or with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) co-infection. We evaluated the adaptive profile of expanded NK cells, their antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) capacity and functional responses against hepatoma cell lines in the presence or absence of HBV infection.
resultsExpanded NK cells achieved >97% purity, with the NKG2C positive population exhibiting a mean 100-fold expansion. These cells demonstrated a predominantly adaptive phenotype with high surface expression of NKG2C and cytotoxic potential (Granzyme B). They maintained high levels of CD16 surface expression and upregulated CD2, essential for ADCC. Functionally, expanded adaptive NK cells showed enhanced ADCC capacity and functional responses to K562 targets, naive, HBV integrant-expressing, and de novo infected hepatoma cell lines. TGF-β preconditioning induced tissue-resident features (CD103, CD49a) in expanded adaptive NK cells, while preserving their adaptive phenotype and functionality, enhancing their potential for liver targeted immunotherapy. Further, expanded adaptive NK cells demonstrated minimal reactivity against autologous activated T cells, suggesting limited off-target effects.
conclusionsOur study demonstrates the first successful expansion of adaptive NK cells with robust functional responses from donors with chronic viral infection. This approach creates opportunities for NK cell-based therapies alone or in combination with monoclonal antibodies contributing to HBV functional cure strategies and the treatment of HBV-driven cancers.
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