Patterns of immune responses to the host-encoded GOR and hepatitis C virus core-derived epitopes with relation to hepatitis C viremia, genotypes, and liver disease severity.
Antibody responses to the GOR epitope and hepatitis C virus (HCV) core were investigated in 136 patients with chronic HCV infection. Patient age (P = .011) and necroinflammatory activity (P < .001) were significantly greater in 92 (67.6%) patients with anti-GOR than in 44 (32.4%) patients without anti-GOR. HCV RNA concentration was significantly higher in patients with anti-GOR (P = .031). HCV 1a or 1b genotypes were also found according to anti-GOR status. GOR and HCV core (amino acids 5-19) antibody responses correlated significantly (rs = .615, P < .001). Anti-HCV core(5-19) was detected in 67 (73%) of 92 patients with and in 14 (32%) of 44 without anti-GOR (P < .001). Patients with concurrent anti-GOR and anti-HCV core(5-19) had significantly greater necroinflammatory activity (P = .003). By multivariate analysis, anti-HCV core(5-19), patient age, and necroinflammatory activity were correlated with anti-GOR response (P < .001). Reactivity to the GOR autoepitope correlates with HCV core response and liver necroinflammatory activity, thus suggesting an immunopathogenic role in chronic hepatitis C.
Quiroga
J A
JA
Hepatology Unit, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain.
Pardo
M
M
Navas
S
S
Martín
J
J
Carreño
V
V
D000328:Adult; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000276:immunology; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D014766:Viremia / Q000276:immunology*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; D000939:Epitopes; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D009842:Oligopeptides; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014758:Viral Core Proteins; C069130:nucleocapsid protein, Hepatitis C virus