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SUMMARY:Defining a role for Natural Killer cells in HCV infection - Dr Cla
 ir Gardiner\, Trinity College\, Dublin
DTSTART:20130130T123000Z
DTEND:20130130T133000Z
UID:TALK41790@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Sue Griffin
DESCRIPTION:Hepatitis C virus infects 170million people worldwide.  While 
 a minority of patients clear the virus\, most people become chronically in
 fected with HCV.  The factors underlying viral clearance are not well char
 acterised\; however\, the innate immune system is important in this proces
 s.  \n\nWe have previously identified some genes of the innate immune syst
 em\, that when present together\, synergise to increase the risk of develo
 ping chronic infection.  We now show that these genes also synergise to pr
 edict failure to clear HCV infection in patients undergoing treatment for 
 chronic HCV infection.  \n\nOne of the genetic markers is in the region of
  genomic DNA that codes for the interferon lambda family of cytokines and 
 the second codes for a receptor expressed by Natural Killer (NK) cells.  W
 e have therefore investigated a role for interferon lambda cytokines in te
 rms of modulating NK cell functions.  Finally\, we have found that express
 ion of particular interferon lambda cytokines are suppressed in chronic HC
 V infection.\n
LOCATION:Lecture Theatre\, Department of Pathology\, Tennis Court Road
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