CD1d-restricted natural killer T (NKT) cells are involved in the regulation of various immune responses, and have been shown to inhibit viral replication in animal hepatitis models when activated by the glycolipid α- galactosylceramide (α-GalCer, KRN7000). Previous studies have indicated that α-GalCer-induced activation of the immune system requires both CD1d expression by antigen-presenting cells as well as (normal) numbers of NKT cells. Discrepancies exist over circulating numbers of human invariant Vα24 +Vβ11 + NKT cells during hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Here, by cross-sectional analysis and longitudinal analysis of patients undergoing effective combination antiviral therapy, we demonstrate that circulating Vα24 +Vβ11 + NKT cell numbers are not decreased during active HCV infection. Importantly, as we also show that CD1d is expressed at comparable levels by peripheral blood monocytes and CD1c + myeloid dendritic cells (DC) of healthy individuals and HCV-infected patients, these data indicate that all ingredients for evaluating the antiviral effects of the Vα24 +Vβ11 + NKT cell ligand α-GalCer in HCV-infected patients are present.

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doi.org/10.1016/j.clim.2004.10.001, hdl.handle.net/1765/67256
Clinical Immunology
Department of Immunology

van der Vliet, H., Molling, J., von Blomberg, M., Kölgen, W., Stam, A., de Gruijl, T., … van Nieuwkerk, C. (2005). Circulating Vα24 +Vβ11 + NKT cell numbers and dendritic cell CD1d expression in hepatitis C virus infected patients. Clinical Immunology, 114(2), 183–189. doi:10.1016/j.clim.2004.10.001