title: Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-specific in vitro antibody secretion by peripheral blood lymphocytes: correlation with progression of disease and HCV RNA in HCV antibody-positive patients.
abstract: Hepatitis C virus-specific in vitro antibody production (HCV IVAP) by peripheral blood lymphocytes in 53 HCV antibody-positive patients was investigated in comparison with alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels and HCV RNA in serum samples. All 29 HCV IVAP-positive patients were HCV RNA positive; 26 had elevated ALT levels. Among the 24 HCV IVAP-negative patients, 16 were HCV RNA negative, with 12 presenting normal ALT values. These data indicate that HCV IVAP results are highly correlated (P < 0.001) with HCV RNA results and ALT levels. Our study indicates that HCV IVAP can be used as a novel assay in the diagnosis and pathogenesis exploration of HCV infection.
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) U249, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Lapeyronie, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ducos
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Bianchi-Mondain
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Francois
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boisset
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Vendrell
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Serre
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Larrey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral; D000410:Alanine Transaminase