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Early decrease in circulating dendritic cells number after liver transplantation could favor hepatitis C virus recurrence
Author(s) -
Schvoerer Evelyne,
Thumann Christine,
Spohrer Stephan,
Soulier Eric,
Royer Cathy,
Brig Nicolas,
Doridot Stéphane,
Meyer Nicolas,
Ellero Bernard,
WoehlJaegle MarieLorraine,
Meyer Carole,
Wolf Philippe,
Jaeck Daniel,
StollKeller Françoise
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of medical virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1096-9071
pISSN - 0146-6615
DOI - 10.1002/jmv.20664
Subject(s) - virology , liver transplantation , virus , hepatitis c virus , medicine , transplantation , flaviviridae , hepacivirus , immunology , biology
Cirrhosis and hepatocarcinoma related to hepatitis C virus (HCV) lead to more than 30% of liver transplantations. Host‐ and virus‐related mechanisms, involved in the recurrence of HCV infection of the liver graft, are not yet well known. A weak CD4+ T‐cell response was shown to be involved in the outcome of re‐infection but whether dendritic cell numbers are modified in patients transplanted for HCV‐related disease has never been evaluated. Eight transplanted patients for HCV‐related disease and eight non‐HCV‐infected transplanted controls were included. Blood plasmacytoid dendritic cells and myeloid dendritic cells were quantified before transplantation, at day 7 and 1 month after transplantation. Plasma interferon (IFN)‐α and interleukin (IL)‐12 were concomitantly measured. The results showed a significant decrease in the relative ( P < 0.0001) and absolute ( P = 0.0002) values of blood plasmacytoid dendritic cells at day 7 after transplantation when compared to the values obtained before transplantation, increasing again 1 month later, in both HCV‐infected patients and controls. The same tendency was observed for myeloid dendritic cell relative values ( P = 0.0004) and plasma IL‐12 ( P <0.05). IFN‐α appeared to be less often detectable for HCV‐infected patients. These results obtained on dendritic cell numbers could explain partially the early and systematic recurrence of HCV infection on the liver graft and contribute to better adapted therapeutic strategies. J. Med. Virol. 78:1070–1075, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.