Upregulation of PD-1 expression on circulating and intrahepatic hepatitis C virus-specific CD8+ T cells associated with reversible immune dysfunction.

ABSTRACT: Infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is associated with persistence in the majority of individuals. We demonstrate here that the inhibitory molecule programmed death-1 (PD-1) is significantly upregulated on total and HCV-specific CD8(+) cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) in the peripheral blood and livers of patients with chronic infection compared to subjects with spontaneous HCV resolution, patients with nonviral liver disease, and normal controls. PD-1 expression on cytomegalovirus-specific CTLs also varies according to HCV status and is highest in patients with chronic infection. HCV-specific CTLs that are PD-1(high) express higher levels of the senescence marker CD57 than PD-1(low) CTLs, and CD57 expression is greater in chronic than in resolved infection. In vitro blockade of PD-1 by m

SUBMITTER: Golden-Mason L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1951397 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature