Long-Lasting Virus-Specific T Cell Response with Divergent Features in Self-Resolved and Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Patients 35 Years Postinfection.
Immunohorizons
; 6(3): 191-201, 2022 03 07.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-35256480
ABSTRACT
Although recognized as a curable disease, the persistence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in chronically infected patients remains a great burden for public health. T cell immune responses serve a key role in anti-HCV infection; however, the features of T cell immunity in patients after a long-term infection are not well explored. We recruited a special cohort of patients with similar genetic background and natural developing progression of disease who were infected with HCV through blood donation 35 y ago. We found that self-resolved individuals had higher levels of cytokine-secreting T cells than individuals with chronic infections, indicating HCV-specific T cell immunity could be sustained for >35 y. Meanwhile, virus-specific CD8+ T cells in chronic patients were characterized by programmed cell death-1high, TIM-3high expression, which was related to liver injury characterized by aspartate transaminase/alanine aminotransferase levels and morphopathological changes. Unexpectedly, the expression of Lymphocyte-activation gene 3 on CD8+ T cells was lower in chronic patients and negatively correlated with alanine aminotransferase/aspartate transaminase. Our findings provided new insights into HCV-specific T cell responses and may shed light on a way to figure out novel effector targets and explore a way to reverse chronic infections.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Hepatitis C
/
Hepatitis C Crónica
Límite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Immunohorizons
Año:
2022
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
China