Prospective study of natural killer cell phenotype in recurrent hepatitis C virus infection following liver transplantation.
OBJECTIVE
Graft re-infection invariably occurs after liver transplantation (OLT) for chronic hepatitis C and disease progression is unpredictable. We prospectively examined peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) subsets and natural killer (NK) cell receptors (NKRs) in patients with recurrent hepatitis C post-OLT.


METHODS
PBMC were obtained at baseline and at different time points after OLT. NKRs were identified using monoclonal antibodies by flow cytometry.


RESULTS
The proportions of NK, natural T (NT), total and gammadelta T cells were significantly reduced (p<0.01) 7 days post-transplant, probably as a result of graft repopulation. NKG2D+ NK cells were significantly higher compared with healthy controls (p<0.01), declined post-OLT and subsequently returned to baseline values. This, together with a progressive increase in the proportion of CD94/NKG2C+ NK cells over time (p< or = 0.01), appeared to be related to hepatitis C recurrence. There was a statistically significant correlation between expression of the natural cytotoxicity receptors (NCRs) and ALT (p<0.05), supporting the hypothesis that NK cells participate in the necroinflammatory process.


CONCLUSIONS
The data are compatible with homing of immune cells to the liver allograft after surgery, most of which return to pre-OLT levels. HCV recurrence may cause variations in selected NKRs expression akin to other viral infections.
Varchetta
Stefania
S
Department of Infectious Diseases, Research Laboratories, Fondazione I.R.C.C.S. Policlinico San Matteo and University of Pavia, Via Taramelli 5, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
Oliviero
Barbara
B
Francesca Donato
M
M
Agnelli
Francesca
F
Rigamonti
Cristina
C
Paudice
Enrica
E
Arosio
Eliana
E
Berra
Mauro
M
Rossi
Giorgio
G
Tinelli
Carmine
C
Fagnoni
Francesco F
FF
Colombo
Massimo
M
Mavilio
Domenico
D
Mondelli
Mario U
MU
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019002:CD56 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000276:immunology* / Q000601:surgery / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000276:immunology; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055655:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence
D019002:CD56 Antigen; C527085:KLRK1 protein, human; D055655:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K