Immunomodulation of the Natural Killer Cell Phenotype and Response during HCV Infection.

ABSTRACT: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection develops into chronic hepatitis in over two-thirds of acute infections. While current treatments with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) achieve HCV eradication in >95% of cases, no vaccine is available and re-infection can readily occur. Natural killer (NK) cells represent a key cellular component of the innate immune system, participating in early defence against infectious diseases, viruses, and cancers. When acute infection becomes chronic, however, NK cell function is altered. This has been well studied in the context of HCV, where changes in frequency and distribution of NK cell populations have been reported. While activating receptors are downregulated on NK cells in both acute and chronic infection, NK cell inhibiting receptors are upregulated in chr

SUBMITTER: Njiomegnie GF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7230811 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature