Is bronchiolar chemokine expression different after single versus repeated cigarette smoke exposure?
These findings indicate variable patterns of bronchiolar epithelial cytokine expression depending on the duration of CS exposure, and that complex mechanisms govern bronchiolar molecular dynamics in vivo.
IFN activates NK cells early after treatment is initiated. Their cytotoxic function, in particular, is strongly induced, which correlates to virologic response. Therefore, NK cell activation indicates responsiveness to IFN-α-based treatment and suggests the involvement of the innate immune cells in viral clearance.