z-logo
open-access-imgOpen Access
CD4 + /CD8 + ratio of liver‐derived lymphocytes is related to viraemia and not to hepatitis C virus genotypes in chronic hepatitis C
Author(s) -
PHAM B. N.,
MARTINOTPEIGNOUX M.,
MOSNIER J. F.,
NJAPOUM C.,
MARCELLIN P.,
BOUGY F.,
DEGOTT C.,
ERLINGER S.,
COHEN J. H. M.,
DEGOS F.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
clinical & experimental immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.329
H-Index - 135
eISSN - 1365-2249
pISSN - 0009-9104
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2249.1995.tb03784.x
Subject(s) - hepatitis c virus , cd8 , immunology , hepatitis c , virology , biology , genotype , t lymphocyte , hepatitis , lymphocyte , virus , flaviviridae , immune system , gene , biochemistry
SUMMARY The pathogenic mechanisms that lead to chronic hepatitis C are unknown. As hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been shown to induce T cell response, we assessed whether a particular T lymphocyte subset could be preferentially detected in the liver of patients with chronic hepatitis C in relation to viraemia or HCV genotypes. The immunophenotypes of liver‐derived lymphocytes were analysed in 26 patients by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. Viraemia was quantified by branched DNA assay. Using this assay, HCV RNA was not detectable in six patients. HCV RNA was detected in 20 patients, and titres ranged from 8 to 137 × 10 6 Eq/ml. Genotyping was performed using a line probe assay. Type 1a, 1b, 2a, 3a and 4a were found to infect 2, 10, 2, 7 and 3 patients, respectively. The CD4 + /CD8 + ratio of liver‐derived lymphocytes was significantly higher ( P < 0·01) in patients with detectable viraemia than in patients without detectable viraemia. In contrast, neither the percentage of γ/δ T lymphocytes nor that of CD2 + CD57 + cells was different in the groups. When comparing the CD4 + CD8 + ratio, the percentage of γ/δ T lymphocytes or CD2 + CD57 + cells according to genotype, the differences were not significant. These results suggest that the CD4 + /CD8 + ratio of liver‐derived lymphocytes is related to viraemia but not to HCV genotypes in patients with chronic hepatitis C, and that T lymphocytes may be involved in the pathogenesis of liver lesions in chronic hepatitis C.

The content you want is available to Zendy users.

Already have an account? Click here to sign in.
Having issues? You can contact us here