Abstract
Diversity is crucial for the immune system to efficiently combat infections. Natural killer (NK) cells are innate cytotoxic lymphocytes that contribute to the control of viral infections. NK cells were for long thought to be a homogeneous population of cells. However, recent work has instead revealed NK cells to represent a highly diverse population of immune cells where a vast number of subpopulations with distinct characteristics exist across tissues. However, the degree to which a chronic viral infection affects NK cell diversity remains elusive. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is effective in establishing chronic infection in humans. During the last years, new direct-acting antiviral drugs (DAA) have revolutionized treatment of chronic hepatitis C, enabling rapid cure in the majority of patients. This allows us to study the influence of a chronic viral infection and its subsequent elimination on the NK cell compartment with a focus on NK cell diversity. In our recent study (Nat Commun, 9:2275), we show that chronic HCV infection irreversibly impacts human NK cell repertoire diversity.
Highlights
Due to the fact that infection with Hepatitis C virus (HCV) nearly always becomes chronic, we first investigated the imprint of the persisting infection on the Natural killer (NK) cell compartment
In our recent study (Nat Commun, 9:2275), we show that chronic HCV infection irreversibly impacts human NK cell repertoire diversity
To overcome shortcomings of prior studies, where typically a limited number of phenotypic parameters had been assessed, we applied stochastic neighbor embedding (SNE) analysis to complex flow cytometry data. This analysis revealed that the NK cell receptor repertoire showed distinct patterns in HCV patients as compared to healthy controls
Summary
Due to the fact that infection with HCV nearly always becomes chronic, we first investigated the imprint of the persisting infection on the NK cell compartment. Irreversible impact of chronic hepatitis C virus infection on human natural killer cell diversity 1 Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, 14186 Stockholm, Sweden. Björkström, MD PhD, CIM, F59, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, S-14186 Stockholm, Sweden; E-mail: niklas.bjorkstrom@ki.se
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call