Monocyte-derived dendritic cells from chronic HCV patients are not infected but show an immature phenotype and aberrant cytokine profile.

BACKGROUND: Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is characterized by an insufficient immune response, possibly owing to impaired function of antigen-presenting cells such as myeloid dendritic cells (DCs). Therapeutic vaccination with in vitro generated DCs may enhance the immune response. Subsets of DCs can originate from monocytes, but the presence of HCV in monocytes that develop into DCs in vitro may impair DC function. Therefore, we studied the presence of HCV RNA in monocytes and monocyte-derived DCs from chronic HCV patients. METHODS: Monocytes were cultured with granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin 4 (IL-4) for 6 days, and then with GM-CSF, IL-4, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), prostaglandin E2, IL-1beta and IL-6 for 2 days to generate mature DCs. HCV RNA was assessed by polymerase chain reaction. Surface molecules were assessed by flow cytometry. Cytokine production was assessed by cytokine bead array. RESULTS: HCV RNA was present in monocytes in 11 of 13 patients, but undetectable in mature DCs in 13 of 13 patients. The morphology of patient DCs was comparable with DCs from healthy controls, but the percentage of cells expressing surface molecules CD83 (P=0.001), CD86 (P=0.023) and human leucocyte antigen-DR (P=0.028) was lower in HCV patients. Compared with control DCs, patient DCs produced enhanced levels of IL-10 (P=0.0079) and IL-8 (P=0.0079), and lower levels of TNF-alpha (P=0.032), IL-6 (P=NS) and IL-1beta (P=0.0079). Patient and control DCs did not produce IL-12. CONCLUSIONS: Monocyte-derived DCs from chronic HCV patients are not infected but show an immature phenotype and aberrant cytokine profile.     

Impaired dendritic cell maturation in patients with chronic, but not resolved, hepatitis C virus infection

Dendritic cells (DCs) are important for the initiation of immune responses to foreign antigens. Their antigen uptake and presentation capacities enable them to prime and activate T cells. Immature DCs capture antigens; however, they must be activated to mature before serving as efficient antigen-presenting cells. The antigen-presenting capacity of DCs can be diminished during viral infection and as a consequence of tumor formation. Chronic infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been shown to affect the allostimulatory function of DCs. In this study, it is demonstrated that monocyte-derived DCs from patients with chronic HCV infection do not respond to maturation stimuli. Instead, they maintain their immature phenotype, reflected by the pattern of cell surface markers and by their continued capacity to uptake antigen. Moreover, their allostimulatory abilities are impaired compared with those of mature DCs derived from healthy donors. To investigate a possible correlation between viral clearance and this DC maturation defect, patients with resolved HCV infection after a course of antiviral therapy were studied. Results demonstrate that DCs from patients who cleared HCV behaved like DCs from healthy donors: in response to maturation stimuli, they decrease antigen uptake, up-regulate expression of appropriate surface markers, and are potent stimulators of allogeneic T cells. (Blood. 2001;97:3171-3176)     

Monocyte derived dendritic cells retain their functional capacity in patients following infection with hepatitis C virus

Summary. Studies assessing the function of monocyte derived dendritic cells (MD‐DC) in individuals with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection have shown conflicting results. Impaired MD‐DC function in chronic HCV infection would have important implications both for understanding the pathogenesis of HCV infection and in the use of autologous MD‐DC in vaccination strategies. We determined the allostimulatory capacity of MD‐DC in the same patient before and after HCV infection. Next, the phenotype, cytokine production and allostimulatory function of immature and mature MD‐DC in individuals with persistent HCV infection were compared directly with MD‐DC from healthy individuals. Finally, we assessed the ability of MD‐DC to prime autologous naïve peptide specific CD8+ T cells using HLA‐A2 class‐I tetramers. DCs retained the same allostimulatory capacity before and following the establishment of persistent HCV infection. The surface phenotype and the amount of interleukin (IL)‐10 and IL‐12(p70) produced during DC maturation did not differ between HCV‐infected individuals and healthy controls. Mature DCs from HCV‐infected individuals performed comparably in an allogeneic MLR compared with healthy individuals. Mature MD‐DC from HCV‐infected individuals stimulated the expansion of peptide specific naïve CD8+ T cells. MD‐DC from HCV‐infected and healthy individuals are phenotypically indistinguishable and perform comparably in functional assays.     

Hepatitis C virus NS4 protein impairs the Th1 polarization of immature dendritic cells

Summary. Dendritic cells (DCs) in chronic hepatitis C patients display impaired function, although the details remain unclear. To investigate the hepatitis C virus (HCV) protein that has the most impact on DC function, we compared five recombinant proteins and seven HCV protein genes in modulating DC phenotype and function. Immature DCs (iDCs) were established from healthy donor peripheral blood monocytes with granulocyte–macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM‐CSF) and IL‐4. Lipopolysaccharide was used to establish mature DCs (mDCs). Cells were then pulsed with HCV recombinant proteins or transfected with HCV plasmids and subsequently assayed for cell surface marker expression by flow cytometry. For cytokine and proliferative T‐cell response analysis, DCs were cultured with autologous CD4 T cells and tuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD). Mean fluorescent intensity of CD86 was reduced in HCV protein‐pulsed iDCs. Proliferative T‐cell responses and Th1 cytokine concentrations were reduced with HCV nonstructural proteins (NS), particularly with HCV NS4. HCV nonstructural proteins, particularly NS4, change the iDC phenotype and reduce antigen‐specific T‐cell stimulatory function with Th1 cytokine reductions.     

Additive inhibition of dendritic cell allostimulatory capacity by alcohol and hepatitis C is not restored by DC maturation and involves abnormal IL-10 and IL-2 induction

Background: Excessive alcohol use results in impaired immunity, and it is associated with increased incidence and progression of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Here we investigated the effects of HCV infection and alcohol on myeloid dendritic cells (DC) that are critical in antiviral immunity. Methods: Immature and mature DCs were generated from monocytes of chronic HCV infected patients (HCV‐DC) and controls (N‐DC) with IL‐4 plus granulocyte‐macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM‐CSF) in the presence or absence of alcohol (25 mM). DC allostimulatory capacity was tested in mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) and cytokine production by ELISA. Results: Allostimulatory capacity of HCV‐DCs was reduced compared to N‐DCs and it was further inhibited by alcohol treatment (p < 0.01). MLR was also decreased with alcohol‐treated N‐DCs. DC phenotypic markers and apoptosis were comparable between HCV‐DCs and N‐DCs irrespective of alcohol treatment. However, HCV‐DCs and alcohol‐treated N‐DCs exhibited elevated IL‐10 and reduced IL‐12 production. Reduced MLR with HCV‐DCs and its further inhibition by alcohol coexisted with decreasing IL‐2 levels (p < 0.017). DC maturation partially improved but failed to fully restore the reduced allostimulatory function of either alcohol‐treated or alcohol‐naïve HCV‐DCs (p < 0.018). Conclusions: Alcohol and HCV independently and together inhibit DC allostimulatory capacity, increase IL‐10, reduce IL‐12 and IL‐2 production that cannot be normalized by DC maturation. HCV and alcohol interact to modulate innate and adaptive immune responses via dendritic cells.     

Decreased IFNγ production correlates with diminished production of cytokines by dendritic cells in patients infected with hepatitis C virus and receiving therapy

Summary. Toll‐like receptor (TLR) expression and the signalling pathways that lead to the production of accessory cytokines by antigen‐presenting cells (APCs) both have potential to limit T‐cell responses to viral antigens. Here, expression of TLR and retinoic acid inducible gene I (RIG‐I) and responses evoked through these proteins were evaluated in patients chronically infected with HCV, before and during pegylated interferon‐α (IFNα) and ribavirin therapy. Expression of TLR2, 3, 4, 7, 9 and RIG‐I on APCs and cytokine production by DCs were measured by flow cytometry. Production of IL‐12 by myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs), IFNα by plasmacytoid cells (pDCs) and IFNγ by peripheral blood mononuclear cells was measured after stimulation with TLR ligands. IFNγ ELISpot responses to HCV and CMV antigens declined on therapy. TLR and RIG‐I expression on mDCs, pDCs, B cells and monocytes was either similar or higher in patients than that in controls and generally increased during therapy. Therapy impaired IL‐12 and IFNα production by DCs and reduced production of IFNγ by PBMCs after stimulation with ligands for TLR3, TLR7/8, TLR9 and RIG‐I. This was independent of whether patients attained a sustained virological response. HCV disease and interferon‐based therapy reduced IFN‐γ responses to HCV antigens and TLR agonists. This was not accompanied by reduced expression of pertinent TLR but correlated with diminished production of co‐stimulatory cytokines by DCs stimulated via TLR.     

Estrogen inhibits dendritic cell maturation to RNA viruses

Dendritic cells (DCs) play a central role in initiating and polarizing the immune response. Therefore, DC maturation represents a key control point in the shift from innate to adaptive immunity. It is suspected that during pregnancy, hormones are critical factors that modulate changes reported to occur in maternal immunity. Here we examined the effect of 17-beta-estradiol (E2) on the maturational response triggered by virus in human DCs and its influence on their ability to activate naive T cells. We developed an in vitro system to measure the response of DCs to virus infection with Newcastle disease virus (NDV) after a 24-hour E2 treatment. Using this system, we demonstrated that E2 pretreatment down-regulated the antiviral response to RNA viruses in DCs by profoundly suppressing type I interferon (IFN) synthesis and other important inflammatory products. In addition, the DCs capacity to stimulate naive CD4 T cells was also reduced. These results suggest an important role for E2 in suppressing the antiviral response and provide a mechanism for the reduced immunity to virus infection observed during pregnancy.     

Comparable functions of plasmacytoid and monocyte-derived dendritic cells in chronic hepatitis C patients and healthy donors

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Dendritic cells (DCs) play a key role in immune responses through antigen presentation and cytokine secretion. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is able to escape elimination by the immune system and often establishes a chronic infection. To investigate whether DC dysfunction is involved in this process, we have studied monoycte-derived DCs (Mo-DCs) and plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs), which produce large amounts of IFN-alpha, from chronic HCV patients and healthy donors. METHODS: We have assessed TNF-alpha and IFN-alpha production by pDCs using intracellular staining after total PBMCs stimulation with unmethylated CG dinucleotides (CpGs). The induction of allogeneic T cell proliferation by immature Mo-DCs was measured using the MLR assay. The up-regulation of maturation markers and the production of TNF-alpha in response to LPS were analyzed using flow cytometry and ELISA, respectively. RESULTS: We have detected comparable frequencies of pDCs producing TNF-alpha and IFN-alpha in both chronic HCV patients and healthy donors and we have found that immature Mo-DCs from both patients and donors similarly induce allogeneic T cell proliferation and mature and secrete TNF-alpha in response to LPS. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that both pDC and Mo-DCs are not impaired in HCV infected patients.     

乙型肝炎病毒对树突状细胞表型成熟和功能活化的影响

目的：研究乙型肝炎病毒（HBV）病毒粒子和抗原成分对树突状细胞（DC）成熟和功能活化的影响。方法：分离培养小鼠骨髓来源的DC细胞（BM-DC）,在培养过程中加入含有HBV病毒粒子和抗原成分的培养基,流式细胞技术分析DC细胞表面分子的表达水平,病毒保护实验和细胞因子生物分析方法分别检测DC细胞培养上清中的干扰素（IFN）和肿瘤坏死因子（TNF）的表达水平。结果：培养基中加入HBV病毒粒子和抗原成分显著抑制DC细胞表面共刺激分子（CD40、CD80、CD86）和成熟标志分子（MHC—Ⅱ）的表达,降低DC细胞培养上清中IFN和TNF的水平。结论：HBV可以直接抑制DC的表型成熟和功能活化,有可能在HBV感染的慢性化机制中起重要作用。     

Normal functional capacity in circulating myeloid and plasmacytoid dendritic cells in patients with chronic hepatitis C

Initial reports analyzing dendritic cell (DC) function in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection have been controversial. Here, we enumerate and characterize the function of circulating myeloid and plasmacytoid DCs. The results show lower percentages of myeloid DCs (0.62 vs. 0.83; P = .05) and plasmacytoid DCs (0.11 vs. 0.34; P = .004) in patients with chronic HCV infection than in healthy, non-HCV-infected individuals. Despite the lower numbers of circulating myeloid DCs present, no phenotypic or functional defects were identified. The lower percentage of plasmacytoid DCs resulted in decreased absolute interferon (IFN)-alpha production; however, when analyzed on a per-cell basis, plasmacytoid DCs from HCV-infected patients generated levels of IFN-alpha equivalent to those generated by DCs from healthy, non-HCV-infected individuals. Contrary to data from previous models (which attributed HCV pathogenesis to defects in the DC compartment), our data reveal functional DC subsets in patients with chronic HCV infection. These results are encouraging for DC-based HCV immunotherapy trials.     

树突状细胞的非特异性免疫功能降低对HBV、HCV清除及细胞毒性T淋巴细胞应答无影响

目的 观察HBV、HCV感染者树突状细胞(DC)的非病毒特异性免疫功能状态与细胞毒性T淋巴细胞(CTL)免疫应答以及病毒清除的关系。方法 对25例成人慢性HBV和HCV合并感染者进行了间隔8年的两次调查、依据临床转归分为HBV和HCV均清除组(A组)14例、单独HCV清除者(B组)6例，单独HBV消除者(C组)3例，HBV和HCV均未清除者(D组)2例，对照组(N组)为同一地区健康献血员11例。体外分离培养DC，检测其表型及抗原摄取功能、刺激异体淋巴细咆增殖能力和4组感染者的CTL免疫应答情况。结果 B、C、D组与A组、N组比较，DC的非病毒特异性免疫功能降低，表现为CD86表达的降低、刺激异体淋巴细胞增殖的能力下降以及抗原摄取能力降低。A组对HBV和HCV的4条抗原表位多肽均有较高的CTL应签率(11／12)；B组对HCV的两条抗原表位多肽均有应答(5／5)，但无对HBV两条表位多肽均应签者、仅有1例对P2有反应；C组对HBV的抗原表位多肽均有应答，但无对两条HCV表位多肽均应答者；D组及N组对HBV或HCV所有实验多肽均无应答。结论 HBV和HCV的清除与病毒特异性的CTL应答相关。HBV和(或)HCV持续存在可能是导致DC功能异常的原因。     

Chronic hepatitis C infection blocks the ability of dendritic cells to secrete IFN-α and stimulate T-cell proliferation

Dendritic cells (DCs) are likely to play a key role in the compromised T-cell function associated with hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection. However, studies of DC function in HCV-infected patients to date have yielded conflicting findings possibly because of patient and virus heterogeneity. Here, we report the characterization of monocyte-derived DCs obtained from a homogenous cohort of women who were infected with HCV genotype 1b following exposure to contaminated anti-D immunoglobulin from a single donor source. Patients included in the study had not received anti-viral therapy and all had mild liver disease. We show that phenotypically normal monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MDDCs) (CD11c(+) HLA(-) DR(+) CD1a(+) CD14(lo) ) can be obtained from these patients. These cells respond to both Poly(I:C) and LPS, by up-regulating expression of CD86. They secrete high levels of IL-8 and CCL5 in response to LPS, an indication that the MyD88-dependent and MyD88-independent signalling pathways downstream of TLR4 ligation are functioning normally. However, these cells are poor stimulators of T-cell proliferation in allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reactions. Furthermore, patient MDDCs fail to secrete IFN-α in response to poly(I:C) or IFN-β stimulation. Altered DC function may contribute to impaired cellular immune responses and chronicity of disease following HCV infection in this cohort. An effective therapeutic vaccine for chronic HCV infection will most likely need to target DCs to elicit an appropriate cellular response; therefore, it is important to resolve how the DCs of different patient cohorts respond to stimulation via TLRs.     

Intracellular mammalian DNA stimulates myeloid dendritic cells to produce type I interferons predominantly through a toll‐like receptor 9–independent pathway

Objective

Exogenous nucleic acids, including bacterial unmethylated DNA and viral single‐stranded RNA, are potent activators of innate immunity through interaction with the Toll‐like receptors (TLRs). In contrast, mammalian DNA has been generally thought to have a limited activation effect, or even a suppressive effect, on innate immunity. Since DNA is a major component of dying cells and recent studies indicate that mammalian nucleic acids may be stimulatory under certain conditions, we undertook this study to examine the effect of intracellular mammalian DNA on myeloid dendritic cell (DC) activation.

Methods

Mammalian DNA was introduced into murine bone marrow–derived DCs (BMDCs) by transfection. BMDC activation was determined by flow cytometry (CD40, CD86). Production of tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin‐6 was measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, and production of type I interferons (IFNs) by bioassay. Parallel studies were conducted using BMDCs from mice deficient in myeloid differentiation 88 (MyD88), TLR‐9, and IFNα/β receptor.

Results

Intracellular mammalian DNA activated immature BMDCs, as determined by the up‐regulation of CD40 and CD86 as well as by the production of significant quantities of type I IFN. The interferogenic response was shown to be relatively independent of TLR‐9, and the TLR adaptor MyD88. The IFN response to intracellular DNA was reduced in BMDCs lacking IFNα/β receptor but was intact in embryonic fibroblasts lacking protein kinase R.

Conclusion

These results indicate that intracellular DNA stimulates BMDC maturation and IFN production predominantly through a TLR‐independent pathway, and support a model whereby inefficient clearance and/or degradation of endogenous DNA may stimulate innate immune responses similar to the TLR‐independent response to exogenous (i.e., viral) double‐stranded RNA.

     

Preparation of clinical-grade recombinant canarypox-human immunodeficiency virus vaccine-loaded human dendritic cells

Preclinical data are reported that support a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) vaccine strategy using recombinant canarypox-HIV vectors (ALVAC-HIV) to load human dendritic cells (DCs) with HIV antigens. Clinical-grade DCs were infected with good manufacturing practice-grade ALVAC-HIV vaccine constructs. ALVAC infection, HIV gene expression, and DC viability and function were monitored by use of immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, blastogenesis assays, antigen-specific interferon (IFN)-gamma enzyme-linked immunospot assay, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay protein detection. The vaccines infected both immature and mature DCs, and intracellular HIV-1 Gag protein was detected within hours. ALVAC-HIV induced DC maturation that was mediated by tumor necrosis factor-alpha and induced DC apoptosis that was directly related to the length of vaccine exposure. Of importance, the infected DCs remained functional in T cell stimulation assays and induced HIV antigen-specific CD8(+) T cell production of IFN-gamma from cells of HIV-1-infected individuals. These data support an ongoing HIV vaccine trial comparing conventional vaccine delivery routes with ex vivo vaccine-loaded autologous DCs for immunogenicity in HIV-1-uninfected volunteers.     

Reduced expression and functional impairment of Toll-like receptor 2 on dendritic cells in chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

BACKGROUND: Dendritic cells (DCs) utilize Toll-like receptors (TLRs) to sense virus and initiate immune responses. We aimed at elucidating the roles of TLRs on DCs in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. METHODS: Monocyte-derived DCs were obtained from 32 healthy volunteers (HV) and 30 chronically HCV-infected patients (CH). TLR2, TLR3 and TLR4 expressions on immature DCs were quantified by real-time quantitative RT-PCR. We stimulated DCs with specific TLR ligands and examined DC maturation, cytokine production and ability to stimulate allogeneic CD4(+) T cells. RESULTS: TLR2 expression on immature DCs was lower in the CH group, whereas those of TLR3 or TLR4 were not different between the groups. Each TLR ligand induced DC maturation and stimulated them to release comparable levels of IL-12p70, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-alpha and IFN-beta between the groups. TLR2 and TLR4 ligands enhanced DC ability to stimulate T cell proliferation, with the degree due to the TLR2 ligand being lower in the CH group. CONCLUSIONS: In HCV infection, the TLR2 expression on DCs is reduced and TLR2-stimulated DCs show lesser ability to proliferate T cells than healthy counterparts, suggesting that the TLR2 system is involved in HCV-induced immunopathogenesis.     

De novo hepatitis B virus infection in hepatocellular carcinoma following eradication of hepatitis C virus by interferon therapy

Epidemiological studies have revealed that hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still observed in hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐positive patients with a sustained response to interferon (IFN) treatment, although a substantial decrease in the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been achieved in those patients. Why HCC develops in patients who have a complete clearance of HCV remains unclear. Here, we provided evidence of latent hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in an initially HCV‐positive chronic hepatitis patient who developed HCC after the complete eradication of HCV by IFN therapy. Although he was initially negative for anti‐hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) or circulating HBV DNA but positive for anti‐hepatitis B core antigen (anti‐HBc) in his sera, he developed HBsAg and HBV DNA during the course of the management of a series of cancers. HBV DNA was detectable in the liver tissues before HBV reactivation and the viral sequences derived from his anti‐HBc‐positive liver showed 100% homology to that from the serum after HBsAg appearance. These findings indicates that HCV‐positive individuals who are positive for anti‐HBc in the absence of HBsAg could have latent HBV infection in their liver tissues and intrahepatic HBV infection may play a pivotal role in the development of HCC after the IFN‐mediated eradication of HCV.     

丙型肝炎病毒多CTL表位树突状细胞疫苗的构建及体外刺激T细胞应答

目的构建丙型肝炎病毒（HCV）多细胞毒性T淋巴细胞（CTL）表位树突状细胞（DC）疫苗,观察其体外刺激的T细胞反应,为下一步做体内免疫实验提供一定的资料。方法构建和制备出含绿色荧光蛋白（GFP）标签的HCV两个CTL表位的重组腺病毒,感染DC,直接在荧光显微镜下或用流式细胞仪检测其感染率;RT-PCR和Western Blot方法检测HCV多CTL表位的表达。流式细胞术分析感染前后DC的CD80、CD83、CD86和人类白细胞抗原（HLA）-DR的表达,CCK-8法观察感染重组腺病毒的DC促进T细胞的增殖效应。ELISA检测重组腺病毒刺激后的DC培养上清液内白细胞介素（IL）-12及DC和T细胞混合培养上清液内干扰素（IFN）-γ的含量。用乳酸脱氢酶（LDH）释放法检测特异性CTL的杀伤活性。结果成功构建含GFP标签的HCV多CTL表位的重组腺病毒,并在DC中表达。重组腺病毒能促进DC成熟,DC的CD80、CD83、CD86和HLA-DR的表达分别为（71.19±3.29）%、（81.21±5.07）%、（91.23±4.24）%、（97.95±5.31）%。感染DC后促进同源T细胞增殖,DC：T为1：10时增殖指数为6.806±0.247。分泌的IL-12和IFN-γ也明显增多,分别达到（193.83±6.25）pg/ml和（111.14±2.09）pg/ml。感染DC刺激的CTL能特异性杀伤转染FL-J6/JFH的Huh-7.5细胞,当效靶比为100：1时,AD1-DC-L的杀伤率为35.99%。结论重组多CTL表位腺病毒在体外能有效感染DC,促进了T细胞反应,为下一步抗HCV的DC疫苗研制打下基础。     

Hepatitis C virus E2 and CD81 interaction may be associated with altered trafficking of dendritic cells in chronic hepatitis C

Dendritic cells (DC) are crucially involved in the induction of immune responses; however, reports on DC functions in chronic hepatitis C are controversial. Function of DC includes proper cell trafficking between sites of infection and lympho-cellular compartments. Thus, we analyzed DC compartmentalization and changes in DC migration in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients. We found significantly lower numbers of circulating BDCA1+ and BDCA2+ DC in HCV(+) patients (n = 20) than in healthy controls (n = 12) (P < .05). Analyzing liver samples from HCV(+) patients (n = 15), HCV(-) controls (n = 15), and disease controls (n = 10), we demonstrated chronic hepatitis C to be associated with intrahepatic DC enrichment (P < .05). In vitro studies indicated that HCV E2-induced secretion of RANTES efficiently attracts CCR5(+) immature DC. Incubation of DC with sera derived from HCV(+) patients made DC unresponsive to CCL21, the chemokine recruiting DC to lymphoid tissues for T cell priming. Unlike attraction of CCR5+ DCs via RANTES, direct inhibition of DC migration in response to CCL21 was specific for patients with chronic hepatitis C and could be attributed to interaction of HCV E2 with CD81 on DC. In conclusion, migration of DC is markedly affected by interaction of HCV E2 with CD81. Failure of DC to recirculate to lymphoid tissue may be critically involved in impaired T cell priming during HCV infection.