Increased expression of CD39 on natural killer cells in patients with chronic hepatitis C is associated with an immature phenotype

Natural killer (NK) cell function has been shown to be crucial in the innate immune response against chronic viral infections such as hepatitis C (HCV) and HIV. The Regulation of NK cells is not dominated by a single receptor as in B or T cells, but the result of an orchestrated interplay of a variety of activating and inhibitory molecules such as C-type lectin and killer cell immunoglobulin receptors. CD39 is an ectonucleotidase which is known for its ability to degrade ATP to AMP and in connection with CD73 to adenosine. Recent findings in chronic viral infections and especially in the liver revealed the impor…