You are here

Article Text

Article menu
Download PDFPDF
Liver
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) specific immune responses in anti-HCV positive patients without hepatitis C viraemia
  1. M E Crampa,
  2. P Caruccia,
  3. S Rossolc,
  4. S Chokshia,b,
  5. G Maertensd,
  6. R Williamsa,b,
  7. N V Naoumova,b
  1. aInstitute of Liver Studies, King’s College School of Medicine and Dentistry, London SE5, UK, bInstitute of Hepatology, University College London Medical School, 69–75 Chenies Mews, London WC1E 6HX, UK, cDepartment of Gastroenterology, Mannheim, Germany, dInnogenetics, Ghent, Belgium
  1. Dr Naoumov.

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS Most patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) develop chronic infection and persistent viraemia. The immune mechanisms responsible for resolution of viraemia remain poorly understood. HCV specific humoral and cellular immune responses in patients with and without viraemia were investigated.

METHODS In vitro T helper (TH) lymphocyte responses to structural and non-structural HCV proteins were determined by means of proliferative response and cytokine production in 35 anti-HCV positive/HCV RNA negative patients and in 31 patients with chronic HCV infection and persistent viraemia. Humoral responses were determined by measuring HCV specific antibody quantity and specificity.

RESULTS A TH response to two or more HCV proteins was present in 18 of 35 patients with serological viral clearance compared with just one of 31 viraemic patients (p = 0.00001). HCV specific interferon-γ production was increased only in the former group. In contrast, the antibody levels were significantly lower and directed at fewer HCV antigens in patients with undetectable HCV RNA.

CONCLUSIONS Patients without viraemia after HCV infection frequently have strong TH lymphocyte responses of the TH1 type to multiple HCV antigens many years after the onset of infection, whereas antibody responses are less marked. These results suggest that control of HCV replication may depend on effective TH lymphocyte activation.

  • hepatitis C virus
  • liver
  • Th1/Th2 cells
  • T helper cytokines
  • viral clearance

  • Abbreviations

    HBV
    hepatitis B virus
    HCV
    hepatitis C virus
    NS3
    HCV non-structural protein 3
    NS4
    HCV non-structural protein 4
    NS5
    HCV non-structural protein 5
    PBMC
    peripheral blood mononulear cell
    SI
    stimulation index
    TH
    T helper lymphocyte
    IFN
    interferon
    IL
    interleukin
    ELISA
    enzyme linked immunosorbent assay
    FACS
    fluorescein activated cell sorter

    • https://doi.org/10.1136/gut.44.3.424

    Statistics from Altmetric.com

      Request Permissions

      If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink service. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways.

    • Abbreviations

      HBV
      hepatitis B virus
      HCV
      hepatitis C virus
      NS3
      HCV non-structural protein 3
      NS4
      HCV non-structural protein 4
      NS5
      HCV non-structural protein 5
      PBMC
      peripheral blood mononulear cell
      SI
      stimulation index
      TH
      T helper lymphocyte
      IFN
      interferon
      IL
      interleukin
      ELISA
      enzyme linked immunosorbent assay
      FACS
      fluorescein activated cell sorter
      • View Full Text