title: Modifications of T-lymphocyte subsets before and during interferon and ribavirin treatment for chronic hepatitis C infection.
abstract: Our purpose was to determine in HCV-infected patients whether T-lymphocyte sub-populations were modified before and during interferon-alpha and ribavirin treatment, and whether this correlated with virological response. Twenty-two naive patients were given IFN-alpha 3 Million Units three times per week for 24 or 48 weeks and ribavirin. Sustained virological response corresponded to undetectable serum HCV RNA at treatment completion and 6 months later. Total blood lymphocyte counts and CD3(+)CD4(+), CD3(+)CD8(+), CD3(+)CD4(+)HLA-DR(+), and CD3(+)CD8(+)HLA-DR(+) lymphocyte subsets evaluated before, during, and after treatment were compared to values from 37 healthy subjects. At inclusion, patients and controls had similar total lymphocyte counts. CD3(+)CD4(+) counts and percentages were significantly higher in HCV patients. HLA-DR expression was also increased in CD4(+) (p < 0.0001) and CD8(+) T-cells (p = 0.0008) as compared with controls. During treatment, all lymphocyte subset counts and percentage decreased except the CD3(+)CD4(+) T-cell percentage which increased. Moreover, after 1 month of treatment, virological responders exhibited higher CD4(+) counts than nonresponders (p = 0.025), whereas they did not differ at inclusion or during the 2nd to 6th months of treatment. After treatment completion, all populations returned to baseline values. These results suggest that CD3(+)CD4(+) T-lymphocyte percentage increase under treatment could be related to IFN immunomodulation and associated with virological response.
authors.affiliation: Immunology Laboratory, Pellegrin Hospital, Place Amélie Raba Léon, 33076 Bordeaux, France. martine.neau-cransac@chu-bordeaux.fr
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Neau-Cransac
authors.forename: Juliette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Foucher
authors.forename: Victor De
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Ledinghen
authors.forename: Pierre-Henri
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Bernard
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Legrand
authors.forename: Marie-Edith
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Lafon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D007370:Interferon Type I; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin