Relationship between regulatory T cells and the combination of pegylated interferon and ribavirin for the treatment of chronic hepatitis type C.
OBJECTIVE
The frequency of regulatory T cells (Tregs) may be related to persistent hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We studied the alteration of the Treg ratio in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from chronic hepatitis C patients during combination therapy compared with the Treg ratio in liver-infiltrating lymphocytes (LILs) before therapy.


METHODS
The study group consisted of 20 patients who were treatment-naive and had high virus titers of HCV genotype 1. Blood samples were collected prior to treatment and at several time points during treatment. All patients received a liver biopsy prior to treatment. Forkhead box P3 (Foxp3)+, CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ cells in PBMCs and LILs were stained by specific antibodies.


RESULTS
Ten patients had a sustained virological response (SVR), and 10 patients were non-responders. The SVR group had a significant increase in the Foxp3+/CD4+ ratio in PBMCs at 8 and 12 weeks as well as a significant decrease in the Foxp3+/CD4+ ratio and increase in the CD8+/Foxp3+ ratio in LILs.


CONCLUSIONS
The evaluation of Tregs, a potentially significant factor for persistent HCV infection, in LILs prior to treatment and in PBMCs during treatment could predict the result of combination therapy.
Akiyama
Motohisa
M
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Biochemical Science, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan. moakiyama-gi @ umin.ac.jp
Ichikawa
Tatuki
T
Miyaaki
Hisamitsu
H
Motoyoshi
Yasuhide
Y
Takeshita
Shigeyuki
S
Ozawa
Eisuke
E
Miuma
Satoshi
S
Shibata
Hidetaka
H
Taura
Naota
N
Nakao
Kazuhiko
K
D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000032:analysis; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*
D015703:Antigens, CD; D000998:Antiviral Agents; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D012254:Ribavirin; D007372:Interferons