Cellular and humoral immune reactions against autoantigens and hepatitis C viral antigens in chronic hepatitis C.
OBJECTIVE
Previous reports have suggested that the hepatitis C virus (HCV) may induce autoimmune hepatitis. The aim of this study was to examine this hypothesis by investigating humoral and cellular immune responses to HCV-related antigens and various autoantigens in patients with chronic HCV infections.


METHODS
Lymphoproliferative responses in vitro and/or circulating antibodies to an HCV core peptide, the putative autoantigen GOR, the liver-specific hepatic asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGP-R), and other autoantigens were investigated in 27 adults with chronic hepatitis C.


RESULTS
Five patients with HCV (18.5%) showed cellular immune responses to ASGP-R and two others had antibodies to ASGP-R, whereas 6 of 14 patients (42.8%) showed cellular responses to GOR and 7 of 14 patients (50%) showed responses to HCV core. Other autoantibodies were detected in three patients (11%). Nine patients with autoimmune hepatitis studied concurrently for comparison showed cellular and/or humoral responses to ASGP-R but not to GOR. Only 2 of 11 patients with other chronic liver disorders showed immune responses to any antigen tested.


CONCLUSIONS
Specific immunocompetence against HCV-related antigens can often be shown in patients with chronic hepatitis C but is infrequently accompanied by autoreactions against liver-specific or nonspecific antigens. A reported association between T-cell responses to HCV core and lack of liver damage could not be confirmed.
Koskinas
J
J
Institute of Liver Studies, King's College Hospital, London, England.
McFarlane
B M
BM
Nouri-Aria
K T
KT
Tibbs
C J
CJ
Mizokami
M
M
Donaldson
P T
PT
McFarlane
I G
IG
Williams
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D037263:Asialoglycoprotein Receptor; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D001483:Base Sequence; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000276:immunology; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D018936:Hepatitis C Antigens; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000276:immunology; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000276:immunology
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D037263:Asialoglycoprotein Receptor; D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D018936:Hepatitis C Antigens; D010455:Peptides; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D014758:Viral Core Proteins; C069130:nucleocapsid protein, Hepatitis C virus