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Rapid reduction of hepatitis C virus‐Core protein in the peripheral blood improve the immunological response in chronic hepatitis C patients
Author(s) -
Kondo Yasuteru,
Ueno Yoshiyuki,
Wakui Yuta,
Ninomiya Masashi,
Kakazu Eiji,
Inoue Jun,
Kobayashi Koju,
Obara Noriyuki,
Shimosegawa Tooru
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
hepatology research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.123
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1872-034X
pISSN - 1386-6346
DOI - 10.1111/j.1872-034x.2011.00878.x
Subject(s) - medicine , hepatitis c virus , immunology , immune system , peg ratio , pegylated interferon , antigen , cd8 , ribavirin , gastroenterology , virus , finance , economics
Aim: The extracellular hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐antigen, including HCV‐Core protein, can suppress immune cells. Recently, the efficacy of double filtration plasmapheresis (DFPP) for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) was reported. However, the mechanism of efficacy of DFPP might not be only the reduction of HCV but also the effect of immune cells via direct and/or indirect mechanisms. The aim of this study is to analyze the virological and immunological parameters of difficult‐to‐treat HCV patients treated with DFPP combined with Peg‐interferon and RBV (DFPP/Peg‐IFN/RBV) therapy. Methods: Twelve CHC patients were enrolled and treated with DFPP/Peg‐IFN/RBV therapy. The immunological, virological and genetic parameters were studied. Results: All patients (4/4) treated with the major IL28B allele (T/T) could achieve complete early virological response (EVR). The amounts of HCV‐Core antigen in the peripheral blood of EVR patients treated with DFPP/Peg‐IFN/RBV rapidly declined in comparison to those of late virological response (LVR) patients treated with DFPP/Peg‐IFN/RBV and EVR patients treated with Peg‐IFN and RBV (Peg‐IFN/RBV). The amount of IFN‐γ produced from peripheral blood gradually increased. On the other hand, the amount of IL10 gradually decreased in the EVR patients. The frequencies of HCV‐Core binding on CD3+ T cells rapidly declined in EVR patients treated with DFPP/Peg‐IFN/RBV therapy. Moreover, the distributions of activated CD4 + and CD8 + T cells and CD16‐CD56 high natural killer cells were significantly changed between before and after DFPP. Conclusions: The rapid reduction of HCV‐Core antigens and changes in the distribution of lymphoid cells could contribute to the favorable immunological response during DFPP/Peg‐IFN/RBV therapy.