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Anti‐inflammatory cytokines, pro‐fibrogenic chemokines and persistence of acute HCV infection
Author(s) -
Osburn W. O.,
Levine J. S.,
Chattergoon M. A.,
Thomas D. L.,
Cox A. L.
Publication year - 2013
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 - 10.1111/jvh.12052
Subject(s) - chemokine , immunology , immune system , eotaxin , macrophage inflammatory protein , cytokine , hepatitis c virus , inflammation , proinflammatory cytokine , tumor necrosis factor alpha , chronic infection , biology , interleukin , hepatitis c , medicine , virus
Summary Chemokines and cytokines play a vital role in directing and regulating immune responses to viral infections. Persistent hepatitis C virus ( HCV ) infection is characterized by the loss of anti‐ HCV cellular immune responses, while control of HCV infection is associated with maintenance of anti‐ HCV cellular immune responses. To determine whether plasma concentrations of 19 chemokines and cytokines controlling T ‐cell trafficking and function differed based on infection outcome, we compared them in at‐risk subjects followed prospectively for HCV infection. Levels were compared over time in subjects who controlled HCV infection ( C learance) and subjects who developed persistent HCV infection ( P ersistence) at two time points during acute infection: (i) first viraemic sample (initial viraemia) and (ii) last viraemic sample in C learance subjects and time‐matched samples in P ersistence subjects. At initial viraemia, increased pro‐inflammatory tumour necrosis factor α ( TNF α) plasma concentrations were observed in the C learance group, while the plasma levels of anti‐inflammatory interleukin ( IL )‐2, IL ‐10 and IL ‐13 were higher in the P ersistence group. IL ‐13 was positively correlated with IL ‐2 and IL ‐10 at initial viraemia in the P ersistence group. At the time of last viraemia, plasma levels of eotaxin, macrophage chemoattractant protein‐4 ( MCP ‐4), IL ‐5 and IL ‐10 were higher in the P ersistence group and IL ‐10 and IL ‐5 levels were positively correlated. Collectively, these results suggest that the development of persistent infection is associated with an anti‐inflammatory and pro‐fibrogenic chemokine and cytokine profile that is evident at the onset of infection and maintained throughout acute infection.