NK Cell Deregulation in HBV Patients

Natural Killer (NK) cells play a large role in the innate immune response as they are equipped to kill infected or tumor cells. They express a panel of activating and inhibitory receptors that regulate the destruction of the target cell. Many reports have shown that NK cell function is suppressed in CHB patients. Exhaustion occurs when activating receptors become over stimulated leading to the loss of NK function. The investigators hypothesize that NK cells are rendered dysfunctional/ exhausted by HBV. The primary objective is to determined the phenotypical modifications and mechanisms associated to NK cell dysfunction, during different phases of CHB infection, in not treated patients.

Inclusion Criteria: Patients must meet all of the following inclusion criteria to be eligible for participation in this study: * Male or female, age ≥18 years * HBV infection or chronic HBV infection * Willing and able to provide written informed consent Healthy donors must meet all of the following inclusion criteria to be eligible for participation in this study: * Male or female, age between 18 and 50 years * Willing and able to provide written informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Subjects who meet any of the following exclusion criteria are not to be enrolled in this study: * Infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) * Chronic liver disease of a non-HBV etiology * Immune or cancerous disease