Table 3.
Effects of persistent viruses on DC number and function
| HCV | HBV | HIV | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DC number: | ||||
| In blood | Decreased | Decreased | Decreased | |
| At infection site | Enriched (in liver) | Enriched (in liver) | Enriched (lymphoid tissue) | |
| Affected DC function: | Effect on downstream immune function/disease activity: | |||
| IFN-α production | Reduced | Reduced | Reduced | (1) suboptimal T and NK cell activation (2)reduced pDC and T cell survival |
| IL-12 production | Reduced | Reduced | Reduced | (1) suboptimal differentiation of T helper (Th) type 1 cells (2)decreased IFN-γ production by CD8+T cell and NK cells |
| IL-10 production | Increased | Increased | Increased | Inhibition of (1) DC activation (2) Th type 1 cytokine production (3)CD8+ T cell function |
| IDO induction | not known | not known | Yes | (1) suppression of T cell proliferation and function (2) T cell apoptosis |
| T cell stimulation | Reduced/normal | Reduced/normal | Reduced | (1) decreased control of viral replication |