Expansion of hepatitis C-specific CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells after viral clearance: a mechanism to limit collateral damage?
J Allergy Clin Immunol
; 121(5): 1277-1284.e3, 2008 May.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-18355912
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Data from rodent models suggest that a subpopulation of CD4+ T cells, characterized by the constitutive expression of CD25, play a key role in regulating many immune responses. Human CD4+CD25+ T cells also appear to possess a regulatory function, but their role in infections is not fully defined.OBJECTIVES:
We sought to explore the possibility of a role for CD4+CD25+ T cells in controlling immunity to hepatitis C virus (HCV). We hypothesized that CD4+CD25+ T cells might account for the paucity of immune responses measurable in chronically viremic patients by suppressing the immune responses to HCV antigens.METHODS:
We compared the responses of PBMCs to 3 different recombinant HCV antigens before and after depletion of CD25+ cells in 15 chronically viremic patients, 14 nonviremic HCV antibody-positive subjects, and 14 healthy control subjects. We also tested the ability of CD4+CD25+ T cells purified from HLA-matched viremic or nonviremic blood to suppress the responses of HCV epitope-specific T-cell clones.RESULTS:
To our surprise, depletion of peripheral blood CD25+ cells led to a pronounced increase in proliferation of and IFN-gamma production by PBMCs only in nonviremic patients. Furthermore, the CD4+CD25+ T cells purified from HLA-matched nonviremic blood (in contrast to CD4+CD25+ T cells isolated from chronically viremic blood) inhibited the responses of HCV epitope-specific T-cell clones.CONCLUSION:
HCV-specific CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells appear to accompany successful viral clearance.
Texto completo:
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Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Hepatite C
/
Linfócitos T Reguladores
/
Hepatite C Crônica
Limite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2008
Tipo de documento:
Article