Role of relevant immune-modulators and cytokines in hepatocellular carcinoma and premalignant hepatic lesions

Table 2 Differential counts of nature killer cells and dendritic cells among the studied groups

	Normal	Chronic hepatitis	Cirrhosis	HCC	P value
Active mDCs (CD1C+/CD40+)	652.4 ± 15.9A1	154.1 ± 40.9B	25.5 ± 4.3C	82.8 ± 28.7BC	< 0.001
Inactive mature mDCs (CD1c+/HLA+)	627.1 ± 14.8A	134.4 ± 37.1B	54.7 ± 12.3B	121.8 ± 44.8B	< 0.001
Active pDCs (CD303+/CD40+)	782.2 ± 89.6A	237.8 ± 56.2B	164.1 ± 45.9B	251 ± 55.9B	< 0.001
Inactive mature pDCs (CD303+/HLA+)	727.5 ± 18.7A	318.5 ± 61.4A	385.7 ± 233.3A	339.2 ± 67.5A	0.339
Active NK cells (CD56+/CD161+)	535 ± 83.4AB	1166.3 ± 426.3B	399.8 ± 139.8AB	145.5 ± 30.2A	< 0.05
Inactive NK cells (CD56+/CD158+)	710.3 ± 127.9A	656.3 ± 235.7A	462.6 ± 105.3A	456.7 ± 218.1A	0.708
Active NK cells (CD56+/CD314+)	585.5 ± 35.9A	188.5 ± 69.4B	123.5 ± 47.6B	196 ± 110.8B	< 0.001

Data are presented as mean ± SEM. ¹Groups having the same letters in the same variable are statistically insignificant. HCC: Hepatocellular carcinoma; mDCs: Myeloid dendritic cells; NK: Natural killer; pDCs: Plasmacytoid cells.