CD4 T helper type 1 and regulatory T cells induced against the same epitopes on the core protein in hepatitis C virus-infected persons.
The factors that determine persistence or clearance of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are poorly understood. The CD4 T cell responses to the HCV core protein were examined in a cohort of women infected with a single genotype of HCV. CD4 T cells from HCV-infected patients secreted interferon (IFN)-gamma in response to peptides from 4 immunodominant regions of the core protein, and these responses were stronger in persistently infected women. Interleukin (IL)-10 was also produced by CD4 T cells from HCV-infected subjects in response to the same core peptides. Furthermore, HCV core-specific CD4 T cell clones secreted either IFN-gamma or IL-10 but not IL-4. These findings demonstrate that T helper type 1 and regulatory T cells are induced against the same epitopes on the core protein during HCV infection.
MacDonald
Angus J
AJ
Immune Regulation Research Group, Department of Biochemistry, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.
Duffy
Margaret
M
Brady
Miriam T
MT
McKiernan
Susan
S
Hall
William
W
Hegarty
John
J
Curry
Michael
M
Mills
Kingston H G
KH
D000328:Adult; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008875:Middle Aged; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*
D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; D015848:Interleukin-5; D014758:Viral Core Proteins; C069130:nucleocapsid protein, Hepatitis C virus; D016753:Interleukin-10; D007371:Interferon-gamma