Dendritic cells, regulatory T cells and the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis C.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a small, enveloped RNA virus and a major cause of chronic liver disease. Resolution of primary HCV infections depends upon the vigorous responses of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells to multiple viral epitopes. Although such broad-based responses are readily detected early during the course of infection regardless of clinical outcome, they are not maintained in individuals who develop chronic disease. Ostensibly, a variety of factors contribute to the diminished T cell responses observed in chronic, HCV-infected patients including impaired dendritic cell function and the induction of CD4⁺ FoxP3⁺ regulatory T cells. Overwhelming evidence suggests that the complex interaction of dendritic cells and regulatory T cells plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis C.
Department of Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital and the Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
Phyllis T
PT
Losikoff
Alyssa A
AA
Self
Stephen H
SH
Gregory
D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D057131:Immune Evasion; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology