However, NKG2D-ligand (major histocompatibility complex class I chain-related molecule A/B (MICA/B)) was preferentially expressed by HBV-specific CD4<sup>+</sup> T cells of CHB patients, making these cells a potential target to NKG2D-dependent CD8<sup>+</sup>CD28<sup>-</sup> T-cell killing.
In this study, we investigated the phenotypic changes of NK(CD56+CD3-) cells in terms of their functional markers (CD16, NKG2A, NKG2D) during tenofovir therapy in CHB.
In addition, the expression of NKG2D on CD3<sup>+</sup>CD8<sup>+</sup>T cells in the ACLF group was significantly lower than that in the CHB group (P < 0.05), but there were no statistically significant differences in its percentages on CD3<sup>-</sup>CD56<sup>+</sup>NK cells between the 3 groups.