Virological analysis and phenotypic characterization of peripheral blood lymphocytes of hepatitis C virus-infected patients with and without mixed cryoglobulinaemia.
In clinical and pathological terms hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients can be subdivided into two main groups with and without mixed cryoglobulinaemia (MC). Involvement of blood mononuclear cells by HCV has potentially important implications. To this end, HCV-RNA levels in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) preparations of 20 chronically HCV-infected patients with MC were measured and compared with those found in a group of 20 patients without MC matched for age, serum HCV-RNA, infectious genotype, source and presumable duration of infection. Phenotypic abnormalities of PBL subsets in each group of patients were determined by cell surface marker expression and compared. Results showed a significant enrichment of HCV-RNA in PBL of MC patients compared with a non-MC group (P = 0.01). Different distribution of HCV-RNA was accompanied by evidence of an increased frequency of circulating B cells. These data indicate that MC patients are characterized distinctly by a higher quota of cell-associated viral load.
Sansonno
D
D
Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Section of Internal Medicine and Clinical Oncology, University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy. d.sansonno@dimo.uniba.it
Lauletta
G
G
Montrone
M
M
Tucci
F A
FA
Nisi
L
L
Dammacco
F
F
D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003449:Cryoglobulinemia / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D019562:Viral Load
D015703:Antigens, CD; D006680:HLA Antigens; D012367:RNA, Viral