Hepatitis C virus-specific CD4+ T cell response after liver transplantation occurs early, is multispecific, compartmentalizes to the liver, and does not correlate with recurrent disease

Publikation

Hepatitis C virus-specific CD4+ T cell response after liver transplantation occurs early, is multispecific, compartmentalizes to the liver, and does not correlate with recurrent disease

Wissenschaftlicher Artikel/Review - 15.04.2001

Schirren C A, Rau H G, Houghton M, Zachoval R, Gruener N H, Gerlach Tilman, Baretton G, Mamin M, Worzfeld T, Jung M C, Pape G R

Zitation

Schirren C, Rau H, Houghton M, Zachoval R, Gruener N, Gerlach T, Baretton G, Mamin M, Worzfeld T, Jung M, Pape G. Hepatitis C virus-specific CD4+ T cell response after liver transplantation occurs early, is multispecific, compartmentalizes to the liver, and does not correlate with recurrent disease. The Journal of infectious diseases 2001; 183:1187-94.

Art

Wissenschaftlicher Artikel/Review (Englisch)

Zeitschrift

The Journal of infectious diseases 2001; 183

Veröffentlichungsdatum

15.04.2001

ISSN (Druck)

0022-1899

Seiten

1187-94

Kurzbeschreibung/Zielsetzung

The role of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-specific CD4+ T cells in recurrent HCV infection after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLTx) is unclear. In parallel, 73 intrahepatic and 73 blood-derived T cell lines were established from 34 patients. At a single cell level, virus-specific interferon (IFN)-gamma production to various HCV proteins was determined by ELISPOT assay: 45 (62%) of 73 liver- or blood-derived T cell lines produced IFN-gamma in response to one of the HCV antigens. HCV specificity was detected mainly in the liver (47% vs. 23% in the blood; P<.05, chi(2) test) and was detectable earlier (< or =6 months) significantly more often than later (>6 months) after OLTx (78% vs 49%; P<.05, chi(2) test). Histology, histologic activity index, liver enzymes, and virus load did not correlate with the occurrence of HCV-specific CD4+ T cells. Despite strong immunosuppressive treatment, OLTx recipients can develop an early, multispecific, preferentially intrahepatic CD4+ T cell response that decreases over time, making it a potential candidate target for novel therapeutic approaches in the transplant setting.