Hepatitis C virus eradication associated with hepatitis B virus superinfection and development of a hepatitis B virus specific T cell response.
OBJECTIVE
Specific T cell responses during acute hepatitis B and during chronic hepatitis C have been described in detail. However, the T cell responses during the rare setting of acute hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in the course of chronic hepatitis C that eventually lead to clearance of both viruses are completely unknown.


METHODS
We analyzed the virus specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell response during an acute HBV superinfection in a patient with chronic hepatitis C.


RESULTS
The patient eliminated hepatitis C virus (HCV)-RNA and HBV-DNA from serum soon after the clinical onset of acute hepatitis B. The HBV specific T cell response found in this patient corresponds to the typical response that has been described in acute hepatitis B without chronic HCV infection. In contrast the hepatitis C specific immune response was similar to that generally found in chronic hepatitis C despite the fact that the patient also eliminated HCV-RNA.


CONCLUSIONS
We hypothesize that the acute HBV infection induced a HBV specific T cell response which was associated with elimination HBV DNA and HCV-RNA, the latter possibly by bystander mechanisms, e.g. via secretion of cytokines. If such a non-specific bystander mechanism which has proven to be effective in the experimental setting and which is formally described here for a single patient can be shown to be a more general phenomenon, it may support the approach with new antiviral strategies, e.g. the induction of non-specific defense mechanisms against HCV.
Gruener
Norbert H
NH
Institute for Immunology, University of Munich, Goethestrasse 31, D-80336 Munich, Germany.
Jung
Maria-Christina
MC
Ulsenheimer
Axel
A
Gerlach
Tilman J
TJ
Diepolder
Helmut M
HM
Schirren
Carl A
CA
Hoffmann
Robert
R
Wächtler
Martin
M
Backmund
Markus
M
Pape
Gerd R
GR
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000917:Antibody Formation; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D015163:Superinfection / Q000150:complications*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D004279:DNA, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral