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Quantitative and functional differences in CD8 + lymphocyte responses in resolved acute and chronic hepatitis C virus infection
Author(s) -
Lancaster T.,
Sanders E.,
Christie J. M. L.,
Brooks C.,
Green S.,
Rosenberg W. M. C.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of viral hepatitis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.329
H-Index - 100
eISSN - 1365-2893
pISSN - 1352-0504
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2893.2002.00330.x
Subject(s) - virology , lymphocyte , immunology , hepatitis c virus , virus , chronic hepatitis , medicine , cd8 , immune system , biology
CD8 + T lymphocyte responses are important in the clearance of viral infections. In chronic infections they may contribute to pathogenesis. To investigate the role of CD8 + T lymphocyte responses in viral clearance and chronic hepatitis C we have compared hepatitis C virus (HCV) specific cytotoxicity and interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ) production in patients with resolved‐acute, and chronic HCV infection. CD8 + T cell responses to a panel of 13 HCV T cell peptide epitopes were studied using Elispot assays of IFN‐γ production and chromium release cytotoxicity assays. Responses of seven patients with resolved acute HCV infection were compared with those of 14 chronically infected patients. HCV‐specific cytotoxicity differentiated the two populations of patients. The majority (71%) of patients with resolved acute infection tested positive to 42% of relevant peptides compared with the minority (28%) of patients with chronic hepatitis C ( P =0.03) who responded to only 8% of relevant peptides ( P =0.0009). In contrast, HCV‐specific IFN‐γ production was detected in 86% of patients with either resolved or chronic infection in response to 42% and 35%, respectively, of relevant peptides tested (not significant). In patients with chronic infection the magnitude of the HCV‐specific IFN‐γ production was inversely correlated to viral load ( R 2 =0.52; P =0.042). Failure to clear HCV infection may be attributable to the presence of noncytolytic IFN‐γ producing CD8 + T lymphocytes in chronically infected patients. However these CD8 + T cells may play a beneficial role in contributing to the control of viral load in chronic hepatitis C.