Immune Activation Induces Telomeric DNA Damage and Promotes Short-Lived Effector T Cell Differentiation in Chronic HCV Infection.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) leads to a high rate of chronic infection and T cell dysfunction. Although it is well known that chronic antigenic stimulation is a driving force for impaired T cell functions, the precise mechanisms underlying immune activation-induced T cell dysfunctions during HCV infection remain elusive.

Approach and results

Here, we demonstrated that circulating CD4⁺ T cells from patients who are chronically HCV-infected exhibit an immune activation status, as evidenced by the overexpression of cell activation markers human leukocyte antigen-antigen D-related, glucose transporter 1, granzyme B, and the short-lived effector marker CD127^- killer cell lectin-like receptor G1⁺ . In contrast, the expression of stem

SUBMITTER: Nguyen LN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8542603 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature