Hepatitis C virus-induced secretion of inflammatory chemokines preferentially recruits NKG2A+CD8+ T cells

Abstract

In patients with hepatitis C, a loss-of-function mutation of chemokine receptor CCR5 (CCR5Δ32) has been shown to be associated with spontaneous viral clearance and lower levels of hepatic inflammation. In the present study, we show that CCR5 is coexpressed with the inhibitory NKG2A receptor on CD8 + T cells. Consequently, CCR5+ T cells were highly susceptible to NKG2A-mediated inhibition of cytotoxic activity and NKG2A + lymphocytes were preferentially attracted by CCR5 ligands induced by hepatitis C virus E2 antigen. Thus, CCR5 is likely to exert immunoregulatory effects in hepatitis C virus infection by preferentially recruiting CD8 + T cells bearing the inhibitory NKG2A receptor to the liver. © 2008 by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved.