title: Natural killer cells and hepatitis C: action and reaction.
abstract: In 1989, hepatitis C virus (HCV) was first identified as the infectious agent responsible for human non-A, non-B hepatitis. Two decades later, HCV remains a global public health problem with a suboptimal response rate to treatment and the absence of a protective vaccine. Recent work has highlighted the influence of the innate immune system, and in particular natural killer cells, on the outcome and pathology of HCV infection. These cells are considerably more complex than was originally thought and their role in viral infections is currently being unravelled. This review summarises our emerging understanding of natural killer cells in HCV infection.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Kuldeep
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cheent
authors.forename: Salim I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Khakoo
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000276:immunology; D055607:Receptors, Natural Killer Cell / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D055607:Receptors, Natural Killer Cell