Increased IL-10, TNF-Alpha, IFN-Gamma production of activated NK cells in chronic HCV infection

Background: Altered NK cell activity in chronic HCV infection is still controversial, since both impaired and intact NK cell function have been described. The aim of the study was to analyse cytokine production of activated NK and cytotoxic T cells in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection compared to healthy controls. Methods: Twenty patients with chronic HCV infection (10 chronic HCV hepatitis, 10 HCV RNA+ patients with normal ALT) and 10 healthy controls were enrolled. CD56+CD3- NK cells, and CD8+CD3+ cytotoxic T cells were separated by magnetic beads from peripheral blood and after PMA+ionomycin stimula…