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Suppressive activity and altered conventional phenotype markers/mediators of regulatory T cells in patients with self‐limiting hepatitis E
Author(s) -
Rathod S. B.,
Das R.,
Thanapati S.,
Arankalle V. A.,
Tripathy A. S.
Publication year - 2014
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.12125
Subject(s) - foxp3 , flow cytometry , immunology , il 2 receptor , medicine , phenotype , biology , immune system , t cell , gene , biochemistry
Summary Hepatitis E virus ( HEV ) is a major cause of self‐limiting acute viral hepatitis in several developing countries. Elevated levels of peripheral CD 4 + CD 25 + F oxp3 + , CD 4 + CD 25 − Foxp3 + and rise in IL ‐10 in hepatitis E have been associated with the involvement of regulatory T cells ( T reg). The functional role of the same is yet elusive. In the current study, we have assessed (i) F oxp3 expression by real‐time PCR and by flow cytometry, (ii) the levels of antigen‐specific IL ‐10 and TGF ‐β by ELISA , (iii) functional analysis of T reg cells and (iv) expression of T reg‐associated conventional phenotypes by flow cytometry in 54 acute patients, 44 recovered individuals from hepatitis E and in 33 healthy controls. F oxp3 mRNA elevation in the acute compared with recovered group and elevation in F oxp3 + cells in both patient groups were significantly elevated. The levels of IL ‐10 and TGF ‐β in the acute patients and TGF ‐β in the recovered individuals were elevated. Significantly higher expression of CTLA ‐4, PD 1, GITR , CD 95, CD 103 and CD 73 on T reg and T effector ( T eff) cells was detected in the patient groups. T reg cells of acute patients and recovered individuals exhibited suppressive activity indicating that the T reg cells of hepatitis E patients are functional. The suppressive capacity of T reg cells in acute hepatitis E patients was significantly higher compared with the recovered individuals. Based on our findings, the suppressive functionality of these key markers associated with hepatitis E T reg function need further exploration to get a better understanding of the mechanisms of T reg‐mediated suppression.