Projects per year
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS: In most cases infection with hepatitis C results in chronic infection as a consequence of viral subversion and failed anti-viral immune responses. The suggestion that dendritic cells are defective in chronic HCV infection led us to investigate the phenotype and function of liver-derived myeloid (mDC) and plasmacytoid (pDC) dendritic cells in patients with chronic HCV infection. METHODS: Liver DCs were isolated without expansion in cytokines from human liver allowing us to study unmanipulated tissue-resident DCs ex vivo. RESULTS: Compared with mDCs isolated from non-infected inflamed liver mDCs from HCV-infected liver (a) demonstrated higher expression of MHC class II, CD86 and CD123, (b) were more efficient stimulators of allogeneic T-cells and (c) secreted less IL-10. Reduced IL-10 secretion may be a factor in the enhanced functional properties of mDCs from HCV infected liver because antibody depletion of IL-10 enhanced the ability of mDCs from non-infected liver to stimulate T-cells. In contrast, pDCs were present at lower frequencies in HCV-infected liver and expressed higher levels of the regulatory receptor BDCA-2. CONCLUSIONS: In HCV-infected liver the combination of enhanced mDC function and a reduced number of pDCs may contribute to viral persistence in the face of persistent inflammation.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 338-47 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Journal of Hepatology |
Volume | 47 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Sept 2007 |
Keywords
- dendritic cells
- HCV
- human
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics of 'Hepatitis C is associated with perturbation of intrahepatic myeloid and plasmacytoid dendritic cell function'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 2 Finished
-
Mechanisms of Hepatitis C Virus Induced Hepatocyte Injury
McKeating, J. & Balfe, P.
1/10/09 → 30/09/12
Project: Research Councils
-
The Role of CD154 +ve Macrophages in Promoting Chronic Liver Inflammation and Apoptosis Using a Primary Cell Co-Culture Model
Alabraba, E.
1/06/06 → 31/05/09
Project: Research Councils