Differentiation-associated ISG expression of NK cells in chronic viral infection.

ABSTRACT: Natural killer (NK) cell responses are modulated by type-I interferons (IFNs) in viral infection. Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, marked by robust IFN signatures, shows NK cells with reduced cytokine release but heightened cytotoxicity. Comparable alterations occur in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection even without a pronounced IFN milieu, implying additional regulatory layers. We analyzed NK cells from healthy donors and patients with chronic HBV or HCV and found conserved expression patterns of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) such as IFITM3, IRF1, IFIT2, and ISG20 that correlated with NK cell differentiation state. These genes are governed by fate-determining transcription factors, including ETS1, FLI1, and Eomes, and appear to be constitu

SUBMITTER: Keller F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12362017 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature