TY - JOUR
T1 - Decrease in CD3-negative-CD8dim+ and Vδ2/Vγ9 TcR + peripheral blood lymphocyte counts, low perforin expression and the impairment of natural killer cell activity is associated with chronic hepatitis C virus infection
AU - Pár, Gabriella
AU - Rukavina, Daniel
AU - Podack, Eckhard R.
AU - Horányi, Margit
AU - Szekeres-Barthó, Júlia
AU - Hegedüs, Géza
AU - Paál, Mária
AU - Szereday, László
AU - Mózsik, Gyula
AU - Pár, Alajos
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported by grants from the Ministry of Health (ETT 31/96), National Scientific Research Fund (OTKA T23476,T 034343) and Liver Research Foundation (Pécs).
PY - 2002/10
Y1 - 2002/10
N2 - Background/Aims: As chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with impaired natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity, we examined the phenotypes and perforin expression of peripheral blood lymphocytes, as well as the effect of interferon-α2b (IFN-α2b) therapy. Methods: Thirty-three patients had chronic hepatitis C, and of them 12 had been on IFN-α2b treatment. Eleven individuals had been treated earlier with IFN-α2b and completely cured, and eight were HCV carriers with persistently normal serum alanine aminotransferase. Three-colour flow cytometry was used to measure the percentage of CD3+/- CD8+, CD3 + CD4+, γδTcR+, Vδ2 TcR +, Vγ9 TcR +, Vδ1 TcR+, CD3 - CD16+, CD3 - CD56+, CD19 + and perforin-positive cells. NK cell activity was assessed by single cell cytotoxic and flow cytometric assay. Results: Patients with chronic hepatitis C showed an impaired NK cytotoxicity, decreased percentage of CD3-negative-CD8dim-positive (NK subtype) and Vγ9/Vδ2 TcR + as well as perforin-positive T lymphocytes, compared to controls and to those who were cured from HCV infection. IFN-α2b increased NK cell cytotoxicity and the percentage of perforin-positive lymphocytes. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that in chronic HCV infection a decreased percentage of CD3-CD8+, Vγ9/Vδ2 TcR + and perforin-positive T cells and simultaneous decreased peripheral NK activity may contribute to the impaired cellular immune response and the chronicity of the disease.
AB - Background/Aims: As chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with impaired natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity, we examined the phenotypes and perforin expression of peripheral blood lymphocytes, as well as the effect of interferon-α2b (IFN-α2b) therapy. Methods: Thirty-three patients had chronic hepatitis C, and of them 12 had been on IFN-α2b treatment. Eleven individuals had been treated earlier with IFN-α2b and completely cured, and eight were HCV carriers with persistently normal serum alanine aminotransferase. Three-colour flow cytometry was used to measure the percentage of CD3+/- CD8+, CD3 + CD4+, γδTcR+, Vδ2 TcR +, Vγ9 TcR +, Vδ1 TcR+, CD3 - CD16+, CD3 - CD56+, CD19 + and perforin-positive cells. NK cell activity was assessed by single cell cytotoxic and flow cytometric assay. Results: Patients with chronic hepatitis C showed an impaired NK cytotoxicity, decreased percentage of CD3-negative-CD8dim-positive (NK subtype) and Vγ9/Vδ2 TcR + as well as perforin-positive T lymphocytes, compared to controls and to those who were cured from HCV infection. IFN-α2b increased NK cell cytotoxicity and the percentage of perforin-positive lymphocytes. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that in chronic HCV infection a decreased percentage of CD3-CD8+, Vγ9/Vδ2 TcR + and perforin-positive T cells and simultaneous decreased peripheral NK activity may contribute to the impaired cellular immune response and the chronicity of the disease.
KW - CD3-negative-CD8 lymphocytes
KW - Gamma/delta T cells
KW - Hepatitis C virus
KW - Interferon
KW - Natural killer cytotoxicity
KW - Perforin
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U2 - 10.1016/S0168-8278(02)00218-0
DO - 10.1016/S0168-8278(02)00218-0
M3 - Article
C2 - 12217606
AN - SCOPUS:0036783791
VL - 37
SP - 514
EP - 522
JO - Journal of Hepatology
JF - Journal of Hepatology
SN - 0168-8278
IS - 4
ER -