The role of natural killer cells in hepatitis C infection

Antivir Ther. 2013;18(7):853-65. doi: 10.3851/IMP2565. Epub 2013 Apr 4.

Abstract

HCV infection is an exponentially growing health burden worldwide, with an estimated 170 million people infected. Although therapies for HCV are continually improving, there remain a considerable proportion of patients who do not achieve viral eradication and develop liver disease. Natural killer (NK) cells are crucial for T-cell activation and are one of the first-line sentinel cell responders to viral infection. A recent explosion in studies exploring the role of NK cells in HCV infection has yielded important mechanistic information and intriguing potential therapeutic options for HCV infection. This review provides a general overview of normal NK cell function and outlines some of the important mechanisms characterizing the immune interplay between NK cells and HCV infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adaptive Immunity
  • Hepacivirus / immunology*
  • Hepatitis C / complications
  • Hepatitis C / immunology*
  • Hepatitis C / metabolism
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology*
  • Killer Cells, Natural / metabolism
  • Liver / immunology
  • Liver / pathology
  • Liver Cirrhosis / etiology
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • Natural Killer T-Cells / immunology
  • Natural Killer T-Cells / metabolism
  • Receptors, Natural Killer Cell / metabolism
  • Receptors, Pattern Recognition / metabolism

Substances

  • Receptors, Natural Killer Cell
  • Receptors, Pattern Recognition