333 HCV-INFECTION IS NOT A MAJOR DETERMINANT OF IMMUNESENESCENCE IN AGING DRUG USERS

Abstract

increased the in vitro anti-HCV activity of NK cells. A role for CD27 in anti-HCV NK cell activity was furthermore supported by the observation that in HIV(+) patients with acute hepatitis C significantly higher frequencies of CD27+ NK cells were found in patients who were subsequently able to clear HCV infection than in those becoming chronically infected. Discussion: Our data indicate that CD27(+) NK cells display antiHCV activity via robust secretion of IFN-g after binding to CD70. In this way, co-stimulation of NK cells via CD27 may be involved in spontaneous clearance of acute hepatitis C in HIV(+) patients.