title: CD4+ T cell responses in patients with chronic hepatitis C undergoing peginterferon/ribavirin therapy correlate with faster, but not sustained, viral clearance.
abstract: T cell immune responses may be important for the elimination of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection during antiviral treatment. In the present study, the kinetics of T cell responses to HCV antigens (NS3-4 and core) were prospectively assessed and were correlated with virologic outcome in 31 patients with chronic HCV infection undergoing peginterferon- alpha 2a/ribavirin therapy. NS3-4--directed T helper cell type 1 (Th1) responses were detected in 77% of patients with a significant decline in viremia at treatment week 4 but were not detected not in those with a slower viral decline. The detectability of NS3-4--directed Th1 responses was associated with faster viremia clearance, was short-lived, and did not seem to be associated with the final treatment outcome.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, 1095, Austria. judith.aberle@meduniwien.ac.at
authors.forename: Judith H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Aberle
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Perstinger
authors.forename: Lukas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Weseslindtner
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Sinzinger
authors.forename: Calin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gurguta
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Steindl-Munda
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kundi
authors.forename: Theresia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Popow-Kraupp
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ferenci
authors.forename: Heidemarie
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Holzmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a