title: Comparable functions of plasmacytoid and monocyte-derived dendritic cells in chronic hepatitis C patients and healthy donors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Dendritic cells (DCs) play a key role in immune responses through antigen presentation and cytokine secretion. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is able to escape elimination by the immune system and often establishes a chronic infection. To investigate whether DC dysfunction is involved in this process, we have studied monoycte-derived DCs (Mo-DCs) and plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs), which produce large amounts of IFN-alpha, from chronic HCV patients and healthy donors.
  
  
  METHODS
  We have assessed TNF-alpha and IFN-alpha production by pDCs using intracellular staining after total PBMCs stimulation with unmethylated CG dinucleotides (CpGs). The induction of allogeneic T cell proliferation by immature Mo-DCs was measured using the MLR assay. The up-regulation of maturation markers and the production of TNF-alpha in response to LPS were analyzed using flow cytometry and ELISA, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We have detected comparable frequencies of pDCs producing TNF-alpha and IFN-alpha in both chronic HCV patients and healthy donors and we have found that immature Mo-DCs from both patients and donors similarly induce allogeneic T cell proliferation and mature and secrete TNF-alpha in response to LPS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results demonstrate that both pDC and Mo-DCs are not impaired in HCV infected patients.
authors.affiliation: Immunology and Virology Department, Chiron Vaccines Research Center, via Fiorentina 1, 53100 Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Piccioli
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tavarini
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nuti
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Colombatto
authors.forename: Maurizia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brunetto
authors.forename: Ferruccio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bonino
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ciccorossi
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zorat
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pozzato
authors.forename: Consuelo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Comar
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abrignani
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wack
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001782:Blood Donors; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000166:cytology; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000166:cytology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha