Retention of CD4+ CD25+ FoxP3+ regulatory T cells in the liver after therapy-induced hepatitis C virus eradication in humans.

ABSTRACT: Following infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV), in most cases immunity fails to eradicate the virus, resulting in slowly progressing immunopathology in the HCV-infected liver. We are the first to examine intrahepatic T cells and CD4(+) CD25(+) FoxP3(+) regulatory T cells (Treg) in patients chronically infected with HCV (chronic HCV patients) during and after antiviral therapy by collecting multiple aspiration biopsy samples from the liver at different time points. We found that intrahepatic Treg frequencies were increased upon alpha interferon and ribavirin administration in about 50% of chronic HCV patients, suggesting stronger regulation of intrahepatic immunity by Treg during antiviral therapy. After cessation of antiviral therapy, the frequency of intrahepatic Treg remained above

SUBMITTER: Claassen MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3094972 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature