HCV proteins and immunoglobulin variable gene (IgV) subfamilies in HCV-induced type II mixed cryoglobulinemia: a concurrent pathogenetic role.
The association between hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and type II mixed cryoglobulinemia (MCII) is well established, but the role played by distinct HCV proteins and by specific components of the anti-HCV humoral immune response remains to be clearly defined. It is widely accepted that HCV drives the expansion of few B-cell clones expressing a restricted pool of selected immunoglobulin variable (IgV) gene subfamilies frequently endowed with rheumatoid factor (RF) activity. Moreover, the same IgV subfamilies are frequently observed in HCV-transformed malignant B-cell clones occasionally complicating MCII. In this paper, we analyze both the humoral and viral counterparts at the basis of cryoglobulins production in HCV-induced MCII, with particular attention reserved to the single IgV subfamilies most frequently involved.
Laboratorio di Microbiologia e Virologia, Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Via Olgettina, 58, 20132 Milano, Italy.
Giuseppe
G
Sautto
Nicasio
N
Mancini
Laura
L
Solforosi
Roberta A
RA
Diotti
Massimo
M
Clementi
Roberto
R
Burioni
D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D003449:Cryoglobulinemia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008232:Lymphoproliferative Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region; D014764:Viral Proteins