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Dendritic cell‐based immunity and vaccination against hepatitis C virus infection
Author(s) -
Zhou Yun,
Zhang Ying,
Yao Zhiqiang,
Moorman Jonathan Patrick,
Jia Zhansheng
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.297
H-Index - 133
eISSN - 1365-2567
pISSN - 0019-2805
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2567.2012.03590.x
Subject(s) - immunology , hepatitis c virus , immune system , vaccination , virology , immunity , antigen , dendritic cell , virus , biology , medicine
Summary Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has chronically infected an estimated 170 million people worldwide. There are many impediments to the development of an effective vaccine for HCV infection. Dendritic cells (DC) remain the most important antigen‐presenting cells for host immune responses, and are capable of either inducing productive immunity or maintaining the state of tolerance to self and non‐self antigens. Researchers have recently explored the mechanisms by which DC function is regulated during HCV infection, leading to impaired antiviral T‐cell responses and so to persistent viral infection. Recently, DC‐based vaccines against HCV have been developed. This review summarizes the current understanding of DC function during HCV infection and explores the prospects of DC‐based HCV vaccine. In particular, it describes the biology of DC, the phenotype of DC in HCV‐infected patients, the effect of HCV on DC development and function, the studies on new DC‐based vaccines against HCV infection, and strategies to improve the efficacy of DC‐based vaccines.