TY - JOUR T1 - Natural killer cells in hepatitis B virus infection JO - The Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases T2 - AU - Wu,Shao-fei AU - Wang,Wen-jing AU - Gao,Yue-qiu SN - 14138670 M3 - 10.1016/j.bjid.2015.05.006 DO - 10.1016/j.bjid.2015.05.006 UR - https://www.bjid.org.br/en-natural-killer-cells-in-hepatitis-articulo-S1413867015001075 AB - Natural killer cells are a unique type of lymphocytes with cytotoxic capacity, and play important roles against tumors and infections. Recently, natural killer cells have been increasingly valued in their effects in hepatitis B virus infection. Since hepatitis B virus is not cytopathic, the subsequent antiviral immune responses of the host are responsible for sustaining the liver injury, which may result in cirrhosis and even hepatocellular carcinoma. Many studies have confirmed that natural killer cells participate in anti-hepatitis B virus responses both in the early phase after infection and in the chronic phase via cytolysis, degranulation, and cytokine secretion. However, natural killer cells play dichotomic roles: they exert antiviral and immunoregulatory functions whilst contribute to the pathogenesis of liver injury. Here, we review the roles of natural killer cells in hepatitis B virus infection, introducing novel therapeutic strategies for controlling hepatitis B virus infection via the modulation of natural killer cells. ER -