TY - JOUR
T1 - A prospective study of T- and B-lymphocyte subpopulations, CD81 expression levels on B cells and regulatory CD4+CD25+CD127 low/-FoxP3+ T cells in patients with chronic HCV infection during pegylated interferon-alpha2a plus ribavirin treatment
AU - Soldevila, B.
AU - Alonso, N.
AU - Martínez-Arconada, M. J.
AU - Morillas, R. M.
AU - Planas, R.
AU - Sanmartí, A. M.
AU - Martínez-Cáceres, E. M.
PY - 2011/6/1
Y1 - 2011/6/1
N2 - Summary. Resolution of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection requires a complex interplay between innate and adaptative immune responses. The role of lymphocyte subpopulations during combined antiviral treatment remains to be defined. This study was conducted to assess the effect of pegylated interferon-alpha2a (pegIFN-α2a) and ribavirin treatment on peripheral blood lymphocytes, mainly on CD81 expression on B cells and CD4 +CD25+CD127low/-FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) in patients with chronic HCV infection. Thirty-five patients with chronic HCV infection who started pegIFN-α2a and ribavirin treatment were enrolled. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were obtained at baseline before treatment (BT), mid-treatment (MT), the end of treatment (ET) and 24 weeks post-treatment (PT). During combined antiviral treatment, a significant decrease in the percentage of CD3+, CD8+, CD3 +gamma/delta (γIδ)+, CD19+ lymphocyte subpopulations and Tregs was observed. There was also a significant increase in the percentage of the CD4+ lymphocyte subpopulation and in CD81 expression levels on CD19+ B cells when BT was compared with ET (all P < 0.05). Seventeen patients were nonresponders (NR) and 18 had a sustained virological response (SVR). At baseline, NR patients had higher CD81 expression levels on CD19+ B cells (P = 0.017) and a higher Tregs percentage (P = 0.025) than SVR patients. Our results suggest that immunomodulation fluctuates during antiviral treatment and that percentage CD81 expression levels on B cells and Tregs might be useful as an immunological prognostic factor for pegIFN-α2a and ribavirin treatment response in chronic HCV infection. © 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
AB - Summary. Resolution of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection requires a complex interplay between innate and adaptative immune responses. The role of lymphocyte subpopulations during combined antiviral treatment remains to be defined. This study was conducted to assess the effect of pegylated interferon-alpha2a (pegIFN-α2a) and ribavirin treatment on peripheral blood lymphocytes, mainly on CD81 expression on B cells and CD4 +CD25+CD127low/-FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) in patients with chronic HCV infection. Thirty-five patients with chronic HCV infection who started pegIFN-α2a and ribavirin treatment were enrolled. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were obtained at baseline before treatment (BT), mid-treatment (MT), the end of treatment (ET) and 24 weeks post-treatment (PT). During combined antiviral treatment, a significant decrease in the percentage of CD3+, CD8+, CD3 +gamma/delta (γIδ)+, CD19+ lymphocyte subpopulations and Tregs was observed. There was also a significant increase in the percentage of the CD4+ lymphocyte subpopulation and in CD81 expression levels on CD19+ B cells when BT was compared with ET (all P < 0.05). Seventeen patients were nonresponders (NR) and 18 had a sustained virological response (SVR). At baseline, NR patients had higher CD81 expression levels on CD19+ B cells (P = 0.017) and a higher Tregs percentage (P = 0.025) than SVR patients. Our results suggest that immunomodulation fluctuates during antiviral treatment and that percentage CD81 expression levels on B cells and Tregs might be useful as an immunological prognostic factor for pegIFN-α2a and ribavirin treatment response in chronic HCV infection. © 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
KW - CD81
KW - FoxP3
KW - HCV
KW - interferon-alpha treatment
KW - lymphocyte subpopulations
KW - tregs
U2 - 10.1111/j.1365-2893.2010.01317.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1365-2893.2010.01317.x
M3 - Article
VL - 18
SP - 384
EP - 392
JO - Journal of Viral Hepatitis
JF - Journal of Viral Hepatitis
SN - 1352-0504
IS - 6
ER -