Open AccessDAAs treatment is associated with up-regulation of CD81 on peripheral B-lymphocytes
Author(s) -
Noha A. Hassuna,
Mohamed A. Y. Abdel-Malek,
Khalid Ali Nasif Mohamed,
Mohamed A. Medhat,
Lynda J. Partridge
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
access microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2516-8290
DOI - 10.1099/acmi.ac2020.po0391
Subject(s) - cd81 , cd19 , lymphocyte , immunology , flow cytometry , cd3 , biology , il 2 receptor , virology , t cell , antigen , cd8 , immune system , hepatitis c virus , virus
Cellular surface expression of CD81 (an essential co-receptor for HCV) is critical for successful HCV infection. Furthermore, CD81 cross-linking with HCV-E2 protein impedes activation signaling pathways in different lymphocytes (T-cells, B -cells and NK cells). The expression of CD81 on peripheral lymphocytes is known to be downregulated following successful dual anti-HCV therapy. On the other hands, no reports are yet available regarding its expression levels following the newly used treatment regimen in Egypt; direct-acting antivirals (DAAs): Sofosubvir & daclatsvir for three months. Thus, the aim of the current study was to evaluate the expression levels of CD81 on T and B lymphocytes in HCV-infected patients before and after successful treatment with DAAs. Cellular CD81 expression was measured on CD3+ (T lymphocytes) and CD19+ (B Lymphocytes) lymphocytes by flow cytometry from 19 patients with chronic HCV infection. All the HCV viruses were of genotype 4. We found no correlation between CD81 expression on either CD3+ or CD19+ lymphocytes and viral load. The expression of CD81 on CD19+ lymphocytes was markedly reduced at the end of the treatment. On the contrary, CD81 was significantly increased on CD3+ lymphocytes following successful treatment. Our data indicate that successful treatment of HCV infection is associated with a reduction in surface CD81 expression on B lymphocytes with a concomitant increase on T lymphocytes.