Hepatitis C virus structural proteins do not prevent human dendritic cell maturation.
OBJECTIVE
Infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) results in chronic hepatitis in more than 70% of cases. Alterations in the maturation of dendritic cells (DC) might play a role in the immune system's inability to eliminate the virus, although viral factors that could be involved have not been identified. This study in vitro investigated whether HCV structural proteins affect maturation of monocyte-derived DC.


METHODS
HCV proteins (core, E1, E2) were expressed by transduction with recombinant adenoviruses of immature DC. The ability of these transduced DC to respond to a maturation stimulus was evaluated by measuring cell surface markers, allogenic lymphocyte stimulation and interleukin (IL)-12 production.


RESULTS
Expression of HCV structural proteins did not modify DC maturation in the presence of lipopolysaccharide, as determined by their phenotype and stimulatory functioning. IL-12 secretion was not affected by HCV protein expression in mature DC.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that HCV structural proteins do not affect maturation of monocyte-derived DC by lipopolysaccharide. These findings are important for further studies to clarify the pathogenesis of chronic HCV infection and towards the rational design of cellular vaccine approaches for immunotherapy against hepatitis C.
Thumann
C
C
Inserm U748, institut de virologie, université Louis-Pasteur, 3, rue Koeberlé, 67000 Strasbourg, France. christine.thumann@viro-ulp.u-strasbg.fr
Schvoerer
E
E
Abraham
J-D
JD
Bohbot
A
A
Stoll-Keller
F
F
Aubertin
A-M
AM
Kieny
M-P
MP
D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000276:immunology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D048708:Cell Growth Processes / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000276:immunology; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000276:immunology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology; D010641:Phenotype; D014161:Transduction, Genetic; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
D000954:Antigens, Surface; C087035:E1 protein, Hepatitis C virus; D016209:Interleukin-8; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D014758:Viral Core Proteins; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins; C091015:glycoprotein E2, Hepatitis C virus; D018664:Interleukin-12