Immune Netw.  2010 Aug;10(4):120-125. 10.4110/in.2010.10.4.120.

T-Cell Dysfunction and Inhibitory Receptors in Hepatitis C Virus Infection

• Lee J
• Suh WI
• Shin EC

• KMID: 2150670
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4110/in.2010.10.4.120

Abstract

Dysfunction of the virus-specific T cells is a cardinal feature in chronic persistent viral infections such as one caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV). In chronic HCV infection, virus-specific dysfunctional CD8 T cells often overexpress various inhibitory receptors. Programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) was the first among these inhibitory receptors that were identified to be overexpressed in functionally impaired T cells. The roles of other inhibitory receptors such as cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) and T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing molecule 3 (Tim-3) have also been demonstrated in T-cell dysfunctions that occur in chronic HCV patients. Blocking these inhibitory receptors in vitro restores the functions of HCV-specific CD8 T cells and allows enhanced proliferation, cytolytic activity and cytokine production. Therefore, the blockade of the inhibitory receptors is considered as a novel strategy for the treatment of chronic HCV infection.

Keyword

Hepatitis C virus; CD8 T cells; T-cell dysfunction; PD-1; CTLA-4; Tim-3

MeSH Terms

Cell Death
Hepacivirus
Hepatitis
Hepatitis C
Humans
Immunoglobulins
Mucins
T-Lymphocytes
Immunoglobulins
Mucins

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