Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
9236732 | Clinical Immunology | 2005 | 7 Pages |
Abstract
CD1d-restricted natural killer T (NKT) cells are involved in the regulation of various immune responses, and have been shown to inhibit viral replication in animal hepatitis models when activated by the glycolipid α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer, KRN7000). Previous studies have indicated that α-GalCer-induced activation of the immune system requires both CD1d expression by antigen-presenting cells as well as (normal) numbers of NKT cells. Discrepancies exist over circulating numbers of human invariant Vα24+Vβ11+ NKT cells during hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Here, by cross-sectional analysis and longitudinal analysis of patients undergoing effective combination antiviral therapy, we demonstrate that circulating Vα24+Vβ11+ NKT cell numbers are not decreased during active HCV infection. Importantly, as we also show that CD1d is expressed at comparable levels by peripheral blood monocytes and CD1c+ myeloid dendritic cells (DC) of healthy individuals and HCV-infected patients, these data indicate that all ingredients for evaluating the antiviral effects of the Vα24+Vβ11+ NKT cell ligand α-GalCer in HCV-infected patients are present.
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Authors
Hans J.J. van der Vliet, Johan W. Molling, B. Mary E. von Blomberg, Wendy Kölgen, Anita G. Stam, Tanja D. de Gruijl, Chris J. Mulder, Harry L.A. Janssen, Nobusuke Nishi, Alfons J.M. van den Eertwegh, Rik J. Scheper, Carin J.M. van Nieuwkerk,