title: Lymphocyte subset characterization associated with persistent hepatitis C virus infection and subsequent progression of liver fibrosis.
abstract: This study aims to deepen the understanding of lymphocyte phenotypes related to the course of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and progression of liver fibrosis in a cohort of atomic bomb survivors. The study subjects comprise 3 groups: 162 HCV persistently infected, 145 spontaneously cleared, and 3,511 uninfected individuals. We observed increased percentages of peripheral blood T(H)1 and total CD8 T cells and decreased percentages of natural killer (NK) cells in the HCV persistence group compared with the other 2 groups after adjustment for age, gender, and radiation exposure dose. Subsequently, we determined that increased T(H)1 cell percentages in the HCV persistence group were significantly associated with an accelerated time-course reduction in platelet counts-accelerated progression of liver fibrosis-whereas T(C)1 and NK cell percentages were inversely associated with progression. This study suggests that T(H)1 immunity is enhanced by persistent HCV infection and that percentages of peripheral T(H)1, T(C)1, and NK cells may help predict progression of liver fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiobiology/Molecular Epidemiology, Radiation Effects Research Foundation, Hiroshima, Japan. kyoshi@rerf.or.jp
authors.forename: Kengo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Waka
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ohishi
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nakashima
authors.forename: Saeko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fujiwara
authors.forename: Masazumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akahoshi
authors.forename: Fumiyoshi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kasagi
authors.forename: Kazuaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chayama
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hakoda
authors.forename: Seishi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kyoizumi
authors.forename: Kei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakachi
authors.forename: Tomonori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Yoichiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kusunoki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D054043:Nuclear Weapons; D010976:Platelet Count; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D017741:Survivors; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*