HCV-specific CD27- CD28- memory T cells are depleted in hepatitis C virus and Schistosoma mansoni co-infection.
Factors that influence the generation and maintenance of memory CD8+ T cells are not fully understood. The homeostasis of memory T cells is highly dynamic and tightly regulated by various stimuli, including cytokines and antigen-major histocompatibility complex ligands. We characterized the hepatitis C virus (HCV)-specific CD8+ T-cell responses in a cohort of HCV-infected individuals with or without Schistosoma mansoni co-infection from Egypt. We observed a significantly decreased CD27- CD28- (late differentiated) memory T-cell population in the HCV co-infected individuals compared to those with HCV infection alone. In contrast, there was no significant difference in the CD27+ CD28+ (early differentiated) memory T cells between the two groups. Analysis of human cytomegalovirus-specific CD8+ T-cell responses in the same individuals failed to reveal a similar pattern of altered memory T-cell differentiation. Thus, S. mansoni co-infection targets a specific subset of memory CD8+ T cells in HCV infection.
Elrefaei
Mohamed
M
California Department of Health Services, Richmond, CA 94804, USA. melrefae@dhs.ca.gov
El-Sheikh
Nabila
N
Kamal
Karim
K
Cao
Huyen
H
D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D018106:CD28 Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory / Q000276:immunology; D016130:Immunophenotyping / Q000379:methods; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000276:immunology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D018127:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7 / Q000276:immunology*
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D018106:CD28 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D012367:RNA, Viral; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D018127:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7; D007371:Interferon-gamma