title: The proportion of different interleukin-17-producing T-cell subsets is associated with liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: Studies have suggested the pivotal role of T helper type 1 (Th1) -related cytokines on the outcome of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Nevertheless, the role of different interleukin-17 (IL-17) -secreting T cells on chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is less clear. Here, the in vivo IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-17 levels were positively correlated with both alanine transaminase (ALT) levels and hepatic lesions. When compared with the control group, CHC patients showed a lower proportion of IL-17-secreting (CD4+and CD8+) T cells capable of simultaneously producing IL-21. Moreover, the percentage of IL-10-secreting Th17 cells was also lower in CHC patients. Notably, advanced liver lesions were observed among those patients with lower percentage levels of IL-17-producing T cells positive for IL-21, interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and IL-10. In contrast, the severity of hepatic damage was associated with peripheral single IL-17+T cells. The percentage of IL-17+IL-21-IFN-γ+(CD4+and CD8+) T-cell phenotypes was positively associated with plasma CD14 levels. Finally, elevated levels of circulating CD14 were detected among CHC patients with extensive liver damage. In summary, although preliminary, our results suggest that a balance between different IL-17-producing T cells, associated with peripheral levels of CD14, may be a progress marker for liver disease in chronically HCV-infected patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.|Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, UERJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fabio C O F
authors.initials: FCOF
authors.lastname: Cachem
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Aleida S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.|Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, UERJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Clarice
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: José Roberto
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Letícia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Delphim
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Internal Medicine Department, HUGG, UNIRIO, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Adilson J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tavares
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Internal Medicine Department, HUGG, UNIRIO, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alessandra M A
authors.initials: AMA
authors.lastname: Maciel
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Internal Medicine Department, HUGG, UNIRIO, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcia M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Amendola-Pires
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Internal Medicine Department, HUGG, UNIRIO, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carlos E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Brandão-Mello
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.|Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, UERJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cleonice A M
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8613-6608
authors.initials: CAM
authors.lastname: Bento
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000276:immunology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D020381:Interleukin-17
keywords: T helper type 17; hepatitis C virus; interferon-γ; interleukin-17; interleukin-21