I made an cytokines expression curve, in 7dpi and 14 dpi Interferon gamma have a expression peaks, but at 28 dpi I observed an expression below the mock / control. Could this result be only related to the resolution of the viral infection, or a possible way of evading the immune response?
Dear Fabricia!
It is possible that the decrease in interferon-gamma on the 28th day after a viral infection may be associated with the still recovered depleted protein level in lymphocytes or other producing cells after excessive production of interferon at an earlier stage of infection and post-infection.
How can it be evasion when the virus is cleared? It's likely a result of depleted cytokine / cells.
Just assuming- It may happen due to immune cell exhaustion. The producers of IFNg like Helper T cells, NK cells may be in a dampened functional state after a massive host-pathogen battle.
Does the virus directly affect these IFNg producing cells? Then the virus can remain in a latent state and downregulate immune function.
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