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Normal functional capacity in circulating myeloid and plasmacytoid dendritic cells in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

TitleNormal functional capacity in circulating myeloid and plasmacytoid dendritic cells in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2005
AuthorsLongman RS, Talal AH, Jacobson IM, Rice CM, Albert ML
JournalJ Infect Dis
Volume192
Issue3
Pagination497-503
Date Published2005 Aug 1
ISSN0022-1899
KeywordsAdult, Aged, Dendritic Cells, Female, Genotype, Hepatitis C, Hepatitis C, Chronic, Humans, Liver Function Tests, Male, Middle Aged
Abstract

Initial reports analyzing dendritic cell (DC) function in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection have been controversial. Here, we enumerate and characterize the function of circulating myeloid and plasmacytoid DCs. The results show lower percentages of myeloid DCs (0.62 vs. 0.83; P = .05) and plasmacytoid DCs (0.11 vs. 0.34; P = .004) in patients with chronic HCV infection than in healthy, non-HCV-infected individuals. Despite the lower numbers of circulating myeloid DCs present, no phenotypic or functional defects were identified. The lower percentage of plasmacytoid DCs resulted in decreased absolute interferon (IFN)-alpha production; however, when analyzed on a per-cell basis, plasmacytoid DCs from HCV-infected patients generated levels of IFN-alpha equivalent to those generated by DCs from healthy, non-HCV-infected individuals. Contrary to data from previous models (which attributed HCV pathogenesis to defects in the DC compartment), our data reveal functional DC subsets in patients with chronic HCV infection. These results are encouraging for DC-based HCV immunotherapy trials.

DOI10.1086/431523
Alternate JournalJ. Infect. Dis.
PubMed ID15995965
Grant ListAI40034 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
CA85883 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
GM07739 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States
M01-RR00102 / RR / NCRR NIH HHS / United States
R01-DA16159 / DA / NIDA NIH HHS / United States