ArticleClinical and molecular hepatology2026
Dissecting antibody-mediated natural killer cell effects reveals a cytotoxic CX3CR1+KLRC2-CD16hi subset linked to hepatitis B virus outcomes.
Article in Clinical and molecular hepatology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.
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Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed.
- Correspondence to editorial on "Dissecting antibody-mediated natural killer cell effects reveals a cytotoxic CX3CR1+KLRC2CD16hi subset linked to hepatitis B virus outcomes".Clinical and molecular hepatology · 2026Article
- Correspondence to letter to the editor on "Dissecting antibody-mediated natural killer cell effects reveals a cytotoxic CX3CR1+KLRC2-CD16hi subset linked to hepatitis B virus outcomes".Clinical and molecular hepatology · 2026Article
- From immune reshaping to functional cure: Translational considerations for natural killer cell therapy in hepatitis B virus: Letter to the editor on "Dissecting antibody-mediated natural killer cell effects reveals a cytotoxic CX3CR1+KLRC2-CD16hi subset linked to hepatitis B virus outcomes".Clinical and molecular hepatology · 2026Article
- New insights into antibody-mediated NK cell immunity in hepatitis B: Editorial on "Dissecting antibody-mediated NK cell effects reveals a cytotoxic CX3CR1⁺KLRC2⁻CD16hi subset linked to HBV outcomes".Clinical and molecular hepatology · 2026Article
- Probiotic-Derived Strain-Specific Metabolites Ameliorate Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease through Modulation of the Gut-Liver Axis.Probiotics and antimicrobial proteins · 2026Article
- The immunoecology of occult hepatitis B virus infection: genetic remodeling and the immune-mediated microcosm.Frontiers in immunology · 2026Review
- Mechanisms and management of pegylated interferon-α toxicity in chronic hepatitis B.Frontiers in immunology · 2026Review
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Authors and funding
17 authors.
Funding
Abstract
BACKGROUND/
aimsNatural killer (NK) cell function is generally considered dampened in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection; however, the NK cell pool exhibits phenotypic and functional heterogeneity, and the antibody--mediated effect of NK cells remains less characterized. This study evaluated the dynamic changes in antibody-mediated NK cell responses and the involvement of distinct NK subsets across disease stages and during antiviral treatment.
methodsA T-cell receptor-like antibody specific for the HBV core 18-27 peptide (cTCRL-Ab) was used to determine the antibody-mediated effect of NK cells, and an array of NK cell surface markers were analyzed in cross-sectional and longitudinal cohorts of patients with chronic HBV infection. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was performed to identify the heterogeneity of NK subsets.
resultsThe cTCRL-Ab enabled the detection of NK cell cytolytic activity and IFNγ production. Notably, cTCRL-Ab-mediated NK cell responses were compromised in chronically HBV-infected patients, particularly in those receiving pegylated interferon-α (Peg-IFNα), which was associated with the downregulation of CD16 expression. Correspondingly, Peg-IFNα inhibited cTCRL-Ab-mediated NK cell function by reducing CD16 expression in vitro. scRNA-seq revealed that CD16 downregulation occurred mainly within a dysfunctional CD16hi NK subset exhibiting exhaustion properties. In contrast, an activated CD16hiNK subpopulation (CX3CR1⁺KLRC2-CD16hi) with high cytotoxicity was enriched in patients who experienced favorable treatment responses. Furthermore, the intrahepatic CX3CR1+KLRC2-CD16hi subset tended to exhibit functional restoration in HBsAg-loss individuals.
conclusionsOur data contribute to the understanding of antibody-mediated responses of NK cells in chronic HBV infection, and highlight a previously unappreciated functional CX3CR1+KLRC2-CD16hiNK subset as a potential therapeutic target.
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