Natural Killer Cells in Viral HepatitisSummary

Natural killer (NK) cells are traditionally regarded as first-line effectors of the innate immune response, but they also have a distinct role in chronic infection. Here, we review the role of NK cells against hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV), two agents that cause acute and chron...

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Main Author: Barbara Rehermann
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2015-11-01
Series:Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352345X15001575
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author Barbara Rehermann
author_facet Barbara Rehermann
author_sort Barbara Rehermann
collection DOAJ
description Natural killer (NK) cells are traditionally regarded as first-line effectors of the innate immune response, but they also have a distinct role in chronic infection. Here, we review the role of NK cells against hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV), two agents that cause acute and chronic hepatitis in humans. Interest in NK cells was initially sparked by genetic studies that demonstrated an association between NK cellârelated genes and the outcome of HCV infection. Viral hepatitis also provides a model to study the NK cell response to both endogenous and exogenous type I interferon (IFN). Levels of IFN-stimulated genes increase in both acute and chronic HCV infection and pegylated IFNα has been the mainstay of HCV and HBV treatment for decades. In chronic viral hepatitis, NK cells display decreased production of antiviral cytokines. This phenotype is found in both HCV and HBV infection but is induced by different mechanisms. Potent antivirals now provide the opportunity to study the reversibility of the suppressed cytokine production of NK cells in comparison with the antigen-induced defect in IFNγ and tumor necrosis factor-α production of virus-specific T cells. This has implications for immune reconstitution in other conditions of chronic inflammation and immune exhaustion, such as human immunodeficiency virus infection and cancer. Keywords: HBV, HCV, Infection, Interferon, T Cell
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spelling doaj.art-14866880617b4595ae97c26e507b42662022-12-21T19:25:31ZengElsevierCellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology2352-345X2015-11-0116578588Natural Killer Cells in Viral HepatitisSummaryBarbara Rehermann0Correspondence Address correspondence to: Barbara Rehermann, MD, Immunology Section, Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, DHHS, Bethesda, Maryland 20892. fax: 301-402-0491.; Immunology Section, Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MarylandNatural killer (NK) cells are traditionally regarded as first-line effectors of the innate immune response, but they also have a distinct role in chronic infection. Here, we review the role of NK cells against hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV), two agents that cause acute and chronic hepatitis in humans. Interest in NK cells was initially sparked by genetic studies that demonstrated an association between NK cellârelated genes and the outcome of HCV infection. Viral hepatitis also provides a model to study the NK cell response to both endogenous and exogenous type I interferon (IFN). Levels of IFN-stimulated genes increase in both acute and chronic HCV infection and pegylated IFNα has been the mainstay of HCV and HBV treatment for decades. In chronic viral hepatitis, NK cells display decreased production of antiviral cytokines. This phenotype is found in both HCV and HBV infection but is induced by different mechanisms. Potent antivirals now provide the opportunity to study the reversibility of the suppressed cytokine production of NK cells in comparison with the antigen-induced defect in IFNγ and tumor necrosis factor-α production of virus-specific T cells. This has implications for immune reconstitution in other conditions of chronic inflammation and immune exhaustion, such as human immunodeficiency virus infection and cancer. Keywords: HBV, HCV, Infection, Interferon, T Cellhttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352345X15001575
spellingShingle Barbara Rehermann
Natural Killer Cells in Viral HepatitisSummary
Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology
title Natural Killer Cells in Viral HepatitisSummary
title_full Natural Killer Cells in Viral HepatitisSummary
title_fullStr Natural Killer Cells in Viral HepatitisSummary
title_full_unstemmed Natural Killer Cells in Viral HepatitisSummary
title_short Natural Killer Cells in Viral HepatitisSummary
title_sort natural killer cells in viral hepatitissummary
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352345X15001575
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