title: HCV-specific CD8+ cell detection at week 12 of chronic hepatitis C treatment with PEG-interferon-α2b/ribavirin correlates with infection resolution.
abstract: Lower than 2-log viral-load (VL) decrease at week 12 (w12) of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) treatment with Peg-interferon/ribavirin has 100% negative predictive value (PV) of sustained virologic response (SVR), and this could be related with absence of HCV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response. In this study, percentage of cases with SVR, according to peripheral HCV-specific cytotoxic response at w12, was analysed (Group-1: detection(+), Group-2: detection(-)). SVR was higher in group-1 (93%) than in group-2 (47%) (p=0.003). An increase on HCV-specific CTL frequency between baseline and w12 and higher specific reactivity were observed in group-1 (p=0.011 and p=0.025). HCV-specific CTL detection at w12 correlated with level of VL decrease (p=0.016, r=0.389), and among HCV genotype-1 patients with either early or delayed virologic response (EDVR), 100% positive PV of SVR was observed. In summary, HCV-specific CTL detection at w12 of Peg-interferon/ribavirin treatment correlates with SVR and in EDVR genotype-1 cases predicts SVR.
authors.affiliation: Translational Hepatology Unit, Guadalajara University Hospital, University of Alcalá, Donante de Sangre St., 19002 Guadalajara, Spain. Electronic address: juan.larrubia@uah.es.
authors.forename: Juan-Ramón
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Larrubia
authors.affiliation: Translational Hepatology Unit, Guadalajara University Hospital, University of Alcalá, Donante de Sangre St., 19002 Guadalajara, Spain. Electronic address: lokhandemu@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Megha-Uttam
authors.initials: MU
authors.lastname: Lokhande
authors.affiliation: Translational Hepatology Unit, Guadalajara University Hospital, University of Alcalá, Donante de Sangre St., 19002 Guadalajara, Spain. Electronic address: elia.morenocubero@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Elia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Moreno-Cubero
authors.affiliation: Translational Hepatology Unit, Guadalajara University Hospital, University of Alcalá, Donante de Sangre St., 19002 Guadalajara, Spain. Electronic address: silviag@sescam.jccm.es.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: García-Garzón
authors.affiliation: Translational Hepatology Unit, Guadalajara University Hospital, University of Alcalá, Donante de Sangre St., 19002 Guadalajara, Spain. Electronic address: jmiquelp@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Joaquín
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Miquel
authors.affiliation: Translational Hepatology Unit, Guadalajara University Hospital, University of Alcalá, Donante de Sangre St., 19002 Guadalajara, Spain. Electronic address: trpaci@sescam.jccm.es.
authors.forename: Trinidad
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Parra-Cid
authors.affiliation: Translational Hepatology Unit, Guadalajara University Hospital, University of Alcalá, Donante de Sangre St., 19002 Guadalajara, Spain. Electronic address: agonzalezp@sescam.jccm.es.
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: González-Praetorious
authors.affiliation: Translational Hepatology Unit, Guadalajara University Hospital, University of Alcalá, Donante de Sangre St., 19002 Guadalajara, Spain. Electronic address: cristianperna@yahoo.es.
authors.forename: Cristian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Perna
authors.affiliation: Translational Hepatology Unit, Guadalajara University Hospital, University of Alcalá, Donante de Sangre St., 19002 Guadalajara, Spain. Electronic address: alicia.lazaro@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lázaro
authors.affiliation: Translational Hepatology Unit, Guadalajara University Hospital, University of Alcalá, Donante de Sangre St., 19002 Guadalajara, Spain. Electronic address: esanzv@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sanz-de-Villalobos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000276:immunology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a
keywords: Chronic hepatitis C; HCV-specific CTL response; PD-1; Peg-interferon α2b; Ribavirin; Sustained virologic response; Treatment response predictive factor