CXCR3 expression on peripheral CD4+ T cells as a predictive marker of response to treatment in chronic hepatitis C.
We monitored in fifty individuals with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) the expression of CCR5 and CXCR3, two chemokine receptors involved in the intra-hepatic recruitment of T cells, at the surface of circulating CD4+ T cells. The percentage of CD4+ T cells expressing CCR5 and/or CXCR3 was increased in patients. The increased percentage of CD4+ CXCR3+ T lymphocytes was linked to serum level of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and to fibrosis METAVIR score. CD4+ T cell surface CCR5 and CXCR3 densities increased after 6 months of treatment with pegylated interferon-alpha and ribavirin. The pre-therapeutic percentage of CD4+ CXCR3+ T cells was correlated with alanine aminotransferase serum level at 12 months, and viral load at 24 months after treatment initiation. Thus, in CHC we observed a high CXCR3 expression on peripheral blood CD4+ T cells which correlates with AST serum level and liver fibrosis, and is predictive of the response to treatment.
Service d'Addictologie, Hôpital Carémeau, Place du Pr Robert Debré, 30029 Nîmes cedex, France.
Pascal
P
Perney
Chrystell
C
Turriere
Pierre
P
Portalès
Hélène
H
Rigole
Christina
C
Psomas
François
F
Blanc
Jacques
J
Clot
Pierre
P
Corbeau
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D019713:Receptors, CCR5 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D054367:Receptors, CXCR3 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; C515187:CXCR3 protein, human; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D019713:Receptors, CCR5; D054367:Receptors, CXCR3; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a