title: Cross-genotype-specific T-cell responses in acute hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection.
abstract: Hepatitis E is an inflammatory liver disease caused by infection with the hepatitis E virus (HEV). In tropical regions, HEV is highly endemic and predominantly mediated by HEV genotypes 1 and 2 with >3 million symptomatic cases per year and around 70 000 deaths. In Europe and America, the zoonotic HEV genotypes 3 and 4 have been reported with continues increasing new infections per year. So far, little is known about T-cell responses during acute HEV genotype 3 infection. Therefore, we did a comprehensive study investigating HEV-specific T-cell responses using genotypes 3- and 1-specific overlapping peptides. Additional cytokines and chemokines were measured in the plasma. In four patients, longitudinal studies were performed. Broad functional HEV-specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-cell responses were detectable in patients acutely infected with HEV genotype 3. Elevated of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine levels during acute HEV infection correlated with ALT levels. Memory HEV-specific T-cell responses were detectable up to >1.5 years upon infection. Importantly, cross-genotype HEV-specific T-cell responses (between genotypes 1 and 3) were measurable in all investigated patients. In conclusion, we could show for the first time HEV-specific T-cell responses during and after acute HEV genotype 3 infection. Our data of cross-genotype HEV-specific T-cell responses might suggest a potential role in cross-genotype-specific protection between HEV genotypes 1 and 3.
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Gisa
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors: P V
authors: PV
authors: Suneetha
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Behrendt
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.|First Medical Center, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hannover, Germany.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Pischke
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Bremer
authors: Institute of Transplant Immunology, IFB-Tx, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors: C S
authors: CS
authors: Falk
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors: M P
authors: MP
authors: Manns
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.|German Center for Infection Research, Hannover, Germany.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Cornberg
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.|German Center for Infection Research, Hannover, Germany.
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Wedemeyer
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors: A R M
authors: AR
authors: Kraft
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D003429:Cross Reactions; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000276:immunology*; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000145:classification* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D064789:Immunity, Heterologous; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D000410:Alanine Transaminase
keywords: T cell; cellular immune response; cross-genotype; hepatitis; hepatitis E virus (HEV)