In:
Journal of Viral Hepatitis, Wiley, Vol. 15, No. 6 ( 2008-06), p. 409-420
Kurzfassung:
Summary. In order to understand the parameters associated with resolved hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐infection, we analysed the HCV‐specific T‐cell responses longitudinally in 13 injecting drug‐users (IDUs) with a prospectively identified acute HCV infection. Seven IDUs cleared HCV and six IDUs remained chronically infected. T‐cell responses were followed in the period needed to resolve and a comparable time span in chronic carriers. Ex vivo T‐cell responses were measured using interferon‐γ Elispot assays after stimulation with overlapping peptide pools spanning the complete HCV genome. CD4+ memory‐ T‐cell responses were determined after 12‐day stimulation with HCV proteins. The maximum response was compared between individuals. The T‐cell responses measured directly ex vivo were weak but significantly higher in resolvers compared to chronic carriers, whereas the CD4+ memory ‐T‐cell response was not different between resolvers and chronic carriers. However, HCV Core protein was targeted more often in chronic carriers compared to individuals resolving HCV infection. CD4+ T‐cell responses predominantly targeting nonstructural proteins were associated with resolved HCV infection. Interestingly, observation of memory‐T‐cell responses present before the documented HCV‐seroconversion suggests that reinfections in IDUs occur often. The presence of these responses however, were not predictive for the outcome of infection. However, a transition of the HCV‐specific CD4+ memory ‐T‐cell response from targeting Core to targeting nonstructural proteins during onset of infection was associated with a favourable outcome. Therefore, the specificity of the CD4+ memory ‐T‐cell responses measured after 12‐day expansion seems most predictive of resolved infection.
Materialart:
Online-Ressource
ISSN:
1352-0504
,
1365-2893
DOI:
10.1111/jvh.2008.15.issue-6
DOI:
10.1111/j.1365-2893.2007.00963.x
Sprache:
Englisch
Verlag:
Wiley
Publikationsdatum:
2008
ZDB Id:
2007924-2