Hepatitis C virus attenuates interferon-induced major histocompatibility complex class I expression and decreases CD8+ T cell effector functions.

ABSTRACT:

Background & aims

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I-restricted CD8(+) T cells are required for clearance of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. MHC class I expression is up-regulated by type I and II interferons (IFNs). However, little is known about the effects of HCV infection on IFN-induced expression of MHC class I.

Methods

We used the HCV cell culture system (HCVcc) with the genotype 2a Japanese fulminant hepatitis-1 strain to investigate IFN-induced expression of MHC class I and its regulatory mechanisms. HCVcc-infected Huh-7.5 cells were analyzed by flow cytometry, metabolic labeling, immunoprecipitation, and immunoblotting analyses. Protein kinase R (PKR) was knocked down with lentiviruses that express small hairpin RNAs. The functional effects of MHC cla

SUBMITTER: Kang W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4478444 | biostudies-literature | 2014 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature