Natural killer cells in hepatitis B virus infection
Braz. j. infect. dis
;
19(4): 417-425, July-Aug. 2015. ilus
Article
in English
| LILACS
| ID: lil-759277
ABSTRACT
Natural killer cells are a unique type of lymphocytes with cytotoxic capacity, and play important roles against tumors and infections. Recently, natural killer cells have been increasingly valued in their effects in hepatitis B virus infection. Since hepatitis B virus is not cytopathic, the subsequent antiviral immune responses of the host are responsible for sustaining the liver injury, which may result in cirrhosis and even hepatocellular carcinoma. Many studies have confirmed that natural killer cells participate in anti-hepatitis B virus responses both in the early phase after infection and in the chronic phase viacytolysis, degranulation, and cytokine secretion. However, natural killer cells play dichotomic roles they exert antiviral and immunoregulatory functions whilst contribute to the pathogenesis of liver injury. Here, we review the roles of natural killer cells in hepatitis B virus infection, introducing novel therapeutic strategies for controlling hepatitis B virus infection viathe modulation of natural killer cells.
Full text:
Available
Index:
LILACS (Americas)
Main subject:
Killer Cells, Natural
/
Hepatitis B
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Braz. j. infect. dis
Journal subject:
Communicable Diseases
Year:
2015
Type:
Article
/
Project document
Affiliation country:
China
Institution/Affiliation country:
Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine/CN
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