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Virus-Specific Cellular Response in Hepatitis C Virus Infection

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Archivum Immunologiae et Therapiae Experimentalis Aims and scope

Abstract

Studies performed on chimpanzees and humans have revealed that strong, multispecific and sustained CD4+ and CD8+ T cell immune responses is a major determinant of hepatitis C virus (HCV) clearance. However, spontaneous elimination of the virus occurs in minority of infected individuals and cellular response directed against HCV antigens is not persistent in individuals with chronic infection. This review presents characteristics of the HCV-specific T cell response in patients with different clinical course of infection, including acute and chronic infection, persons who spontaneously eliminated HCV and non-infected subjects exposed to HCV. Detection of HCV-specific response, especially in non-infected subjects exposed to HCV, may be indicative of HCV prevalence in population and rate of spontaneous viral clearance. Understanding the mechanisms and role of HCV-specific cellular immune response would contribute to better understanding of HCV epidemiology, immunopathogenesis and may help to design an effective vaccine.

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Abbreviations

Bcl-2:

B-cell lymphoma 2

DCs:

Dendritic cells

HCV:

Hepatitis C virus

HCV:

RNA hepatitis C viral genetic material

HLA-DR:

Human leukocyte antigen D related

PWIDs:

People who inject drugs

IFN-γ:

Interferon γ

IL-2:

Interleukin 2

Th1:

T helper cells

TNF:

Tumor necrosis factor

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Immunopathology of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw, Pawińskiego 3c, 02-106, Warsaw, Poland

    Justyna Kaźmierczak, Kamila Caraballo Cortes, Iwona Bukowska-Ośko & Marek Radkowski

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  1. Justyna Kaźmierczak
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  2. Kamila Caraballo Cortes
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  3. Iwona Bukowska-Ośko
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  4. Marek Radkowski
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Correspondence to Justyna Kaźmierczak.

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Kaźmierczak, J., Caraballo Cortes, K., Bukowska-Ośko, I. et al. Virus-Specific Cellular Response in Hepatitis C Virus Infection. Arch. Immunol. Ther. Exp. 64, 101–110 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00005-015-0364-8

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