title: HCV-specific interleukin-21+CD4+ T cells responses associated with viral control through the modulation of HCV-specific CD8+ T cells function in chronic hepatitis C patients.
abstract: Interleukin-21 (IL-21)+CD4+ T cells are involved in the immune response against hepatitis B virus (HBV) by secreting IL-21. However, the role of IL-21+CD4+ T cells in the immune response against chronic hepatitis C (CHC) virus infection is poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the role of IL-21+CD4+ T cells in CHC patients and the potential mechanisms. The study subjects included nineteen CHC patients who were grouped by viral load (low, < 10(6) RNA copies/ml, n = 8; high, > 10(6) RNA copies/ml, n = 11). The peripheral frequency of HCV-specific IL-21+CD4+ T cells was higher in the low viral load group and was negatively correlated with the serum HCV RNA viral load in all CHC patients. Meanwhile, IL-21+ cells accumulated in the liver in the low viral load group. In vitro, IL-21 treatment increased the expression of proliferation markers and cytolytic molecules on HCV-specific CD8+ T cells. In summary, these findings suggest that HCV-specific IL-21+CD4+ T cells might contribute to HCV control by rescuing HCV-specific CD8+ T cells in CHC patients.
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Biological Therapy, Beijing 302 Hospital, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100039, China.
authors.forename: Guohua
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Ji-Yuan
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Qing-Lei
authors.initials: QL
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Junliang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Tianjun
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Xiangsheng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jinhong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Liyuan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Fu-Sheng
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D007378:Interleukins / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000098546:Interleukin-21
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D007378:Interleukins; D000098546:Interleukin-21