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Characterization of Virus‐Specific T‐Cell Immunity in Liver Allograft Recipients with HCV‐Induced Cirrhosis
Author(s) -
Bharat A.,
Barros F.,
Narayanan K.,
Borg B.,
LiskerMelman M.,
Shenoy S.,
Lowell J.,
Crippin J.,
Chapman W.,
Mohanakumar T.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
american journal of transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.89
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1600-6143
pISSN - 1600-6135
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-6143.2008.02248.x
Subject(s) - medicine , cirrhosis , elispot , hepatitis c virus , immunology , liver transplantation , immunity , hepatitis c , gastroenterology , transplantation , t cell , virus , immune system
Recurrent hepatitis C infection (HCV) following liver transplantation causes accelerated allograft cirrhosis. Here we characterized HCV‐specific immunity in adult liver transplant recipients (n = 74) with and without allograft cirrhosis. Patients were divided into hepatic inflammation/no cirrhosis (METAVIR scores 0–2, HIN) and hepatic cirrhosis (score 3–4, HFC). As control, 20 normal subjects and 10 non‐HCV liver transplant patients were included. Twenty‐five different serum cytokines were analyzed using LUMINEX. Frequency of T‐cells specific to HCV‐derived proteins (NS3, NS4, NS5, Core) was characterized using ELISPOT immunoassays. There was no difference in clinical characteristics between HIN (n = 49) and HFC (n = 25) groups. HIN group had high serum IFN‐γ and IL‐12 while HFC demonstrated elevated IL‐4, IL‐5 and IL‐10 (p < 0.01). HCV (NS3, NS4, NS5, Core)‐specific IFN‐γ‐producing CD4 + T‐cells were elevated in the HIN group whereas the HFC patients showed predominance of HCV‐specific IL‐5 and IL‐10‐producing CD4 + T‐cells. Conclusions : Lack of HCV‐specific Th1‐type T‐cell immunity is observed in liver transplant recipients with advanced allograft cirrhosis.