Interferon-gamma response by peripheral blood mononuclear cells to hepatitis C virus core antigen is reduced in patients with liver fibrosis.
Liver fibrosis was correlated with immunological parameters. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with low fibrosis scores had more [corrected] interferon (IFN)-gamma-producing cells than did patients with higher fibrosis scores, when stimulated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) core antigen. Irrespective of liver fibrosis score, cells from all cytomegalovirus (CMV)-seropositive patients had similar IFN-gamma responses, when stimulated by CMV antigen, so patients with fibrosis did not have a broad-spectrum immunodeficiency. IFN-gamma response by PBMCs to HCV core antigen may provide a useful marker of the severity of liver disease in patients with hepatitis C.
Watson
Mark W
MW
Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, and School of Biomedical and Chemical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Australia. mwatson@cyllene.uwa.edu.au.
Jaksic
Aleksandra
A
Price
Patricia
P
Cheng
Wendy
W
McInerney
Marian
M
French
Martyn A
MA
Fisher
Scott
S
Lee
Silvia
S
Flexman
James P
JP
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D018936:Hepatitis C Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D018936:Hepatitis C Antigens; D007371:Interferon-gamma