Abstract:

Objective  To explore expression levels of NKG2D on NK cells in patients suffering from pituitary adenoma, glioma, meningioma, and craniopharyngioma to obtain the relation ship between NKG2D-expressing NK cells and intracranial tumors.  Methods  Blood samples were lysed by FACS lysing solution, and expression of NKG2D on NK cells was determined by flow cytometry.   Results  The results revealed that expression of NKG2D was not obviously changed in glioma, meningioma, and craniopharyngioma but was decreased in pituitary adenoma. There were relations hips between the NKG2D expression and defect of visual field in pituitary adenoma.  Conclusion In intracranial diseases, expression of NKG2D had no changes in glioma, meningioma, craniopharyngioma and was obviously changed in pituitary adenoma.NKG2D expression is related to the progression of pituitary adenoma.

Key words: Pituitary adenoma; Glioma; Meningioma; Craniopharyngioma; Nutural killer receptor member D