Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Eradication With Interferon-Free Direct-Acting Antiviral-Based Therapy Results in KLRG1+ HCV-Specific Memory Natural Killer Cells.
J Infect Dis
; 223(7): 1183-1195, 2021 04 08.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-32777077
ABSTRACT
Direct acting antiviral therapies rapidly clear chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and restore natural killer (NK) cell function. We investigated NK-cell memory formation following HCV clearance by examining NK-cell phenotype and responses from control and chronic HCV patients before and after therapy following sustained virologic response at 12 weeks post therapy (SVR12). NK-cell phenotype at SVR12 differed significantly from paired pretreatment samples, with an increase in maturation markers CD16, CD57, and KLRG1. HCV patients possessed stronger cytotoxic responses against HCV-infected cells as compared to healthy controls; a response that further increased following SVR12. The antigen-specific response was mediated by KLRG1+ NK cells, as demonstrated by increased degranulation and proliferation in response to HCV antigen only. Our data suggest that KLRG1+ HCV-specific memory NK cells develop following viral infection, providing insight into their role in HCV clearance and relevance with regard to vaccine design.
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Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Antivirais
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Células Matadoras Naturais
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Hepatite C Crônica
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Células de Memória Imunológica
Limite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2021
Tipo de documento:
Article