In vitro mitogen-stimulated T-cell from hepatitis C virus-positive liver transplantation candidates, increases T-cell activation markers and T-cell proliferation.
The incidence of acute rejection is significantly higher in hepatitis C virus (HCV) liver-transplant patients than in patients who have received a graft for other liver diseases, i.e., mainly alcoholic cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to assess T-cell function, i.e., intralymphocyte cytokine expression (IL-2 and TNF-alpha), T-cell activation [i.e., transferrin receptor (CD71) and interleukin (IL)-2 alpha-chain (CD25) expression], and T-cell proliferation using a flow-cytometry whole-blood assay in patients waiting for a liver transplantation (n=49). Our data suggest that, in mitogen-stimulated T-cells, (i) intra-lymphocyte cytokine expression is significantly higher in patients with liver disease than in healthy volunteers (n=25); (ii) the expression of T-cell activation markers is decreased in patients with liver cirrhosis compared to healthy volunteers, and (iii) the expression of T-cell activation markers and T-cell proliferation are increased in patients with HCV infection (n=15) compared to those without HCV infection (n=34), particularly compared to patients with alcoholic liver disease (n=19). Circulating CD19-positive cells count was also significantly higher in HCV-positive patients. In conclusion, in vitro, mitogen-stimulated T-cell seem to induce a higher immune response in the blood from patients waiting for a liver transplant for HCV-related liver disease than those without HCV infection, and particularly those with alcoholic liver disease.
Canivet
Cindy
C
INSERM U858/I2MR, Equipe 10, CHU Rangueil, Toulouse, France.
Böhler
Torsten
T
Galvani
Sylvain
S
Péron
Jean-Marie
JM
Muscari
Fabrice
F
Alric
Laurent
L
Barange
Karl
K
Salvayre
Robert
R
Negre-Salvayre
Anne
A
Durand
Dominique
D
Suc
Bertrand
B
Izopet
Jacques
J
Thomsen
Mogens
M
Rostaing
Lionel
L
Kamar
Nassim
N
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008934:Mitogens / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D008934:Mitogens