title: Th1 down-regulation at the single-lymphocyte level in HCV-related liver cirrhosis and the effect of TGF-beta on Th1 response: possible implications for the development of hepatoma.
abstract: Patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) related-liver cirrhosis (LC) often develop hepatoma. The type 1 helper T cell (Th1) response presents an antitumor effect. We evaluated the Th1 response in patients with HCV-related LC at the single-cell level and examined the influence of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta, an immunosuppressive cytokine, on the Th1 response. We determined the ratios of Th1-type cytokine (IFN-gamma, IL-2)-producing cells to CD3-positive cells in 14 patients (LC group) and in 16 normal controls using flow cytometry and measured serum TGF-beta(1) and TGF-beta(2) levels by ELISA. We then incubated, peripheral blood mononuclear cells from seven healthy volunteers with recombinant TGF-beta(1) or TGF-beta(2) for 48 h, and determined the ratio of IFN-gamma producing cells to CD3-positive cells. The IFN-gamma ratio was significantly lower in the LC group (29.7+/-0.3 vs. 44.2+/-15.0%, P<0.01). The serum TGF-beta(2) level was significantly increased in the LC group (601+/-232 vs. 329+/-118 pg/ml, P<0.001). TGF-beta(2) significantly suppressed IFN-gamma production at the single-cell level (10.0+/-4.3 vs. 7.3+/-2.0%, P<0.05). These findings indicated that the enhanced down-regulation of Th1 by TGF-beta(2) in patients with HCV-related LC might be effective against hepatoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, South Kogushi 1-1-1, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Ube City, Japan
authors.forename: Eiki
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sakaguchi
authors.forename: Kozo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kayano
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Segawa
authors.forename: Mariko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sakaida
authors.forename: Kiwamu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okita