Immunological analysis and new immunotherapy of chronic hepatitis C

本研究旨在分析慢性丙型肝炎(CHC)的免疫学发病机制。慢性丙型肝炎患者髓系树突状细胞识别丙型肝炎病毒的天然免疫系统受损。慢性丙型肝炎患者NK细胞中干扰素-α信号的改变与聚乙二醇化干扰素-α/利巴韦林联合治疗的疗效有关。早期诱导丙型肝炎病毒特异性CTL反应在这种联合疗法根除丙型肝炎病毒中起着重要作用。在荷瘤宿主体内可发生NKT细胞活化的损伤，在树突状细胞和肝癌细胞的存在下也可发生调节性T细胞的产生。这些结果可能有助于未来针对CHC和肝癌的免疫治疗的发展。

The aim of this study is to analyze the immunological pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis C (CHC). The innate immune system recognizing hepatitis C virus (HCV) in myeloid dendritic cells was impaired in CHC patients. The IFN-α signaling in NK cells altered in CHC patients and this was associated with the outcome of the peg-IFN-α/ribavirin combination therapy. The early induction of HCV-specific CTL responses plays an important role in the eradication of HCV by this combination therapy. The impairment of activation of NKT cells could be occurred in tumor-bearing host and the generation of regulatory T cells could also be occurred in the presence of dendritic cells and HCC cells. These results might contribute to the development of future immunotherapy against CHC and HCC.