CD127+ T-Cells In Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infected Patients

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major cause of chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma worldwide. It has been estimated that 180 million people are infected globally. In HCV infection, the expression of CD127 considered to serve as a "signatures" for cellular fitness because it demarcates effecter cells that survive in long term and retain functionally responsiveness. In the current study, we aimed to determine the association between CD127+ T-Cells and HCV chronicity. The study was conducted on 60 individuals who were classified into 3 groups; established chronic HCV group, healthy individuals and high risk health-care workers. The study showed there is neither statistical difference in the frequency of CD3+ , CD4+ with and without CD127+ T cells, nor CD3+, CD8+ with and without CD127+ T cells between patients with established chronic HCV infection, healthy individuals and high risk healthcare workers.Hoewevr, there was a significant relation of CD3+ CD4+ T cells with CD127+ between chronic hepatitis C group and high risk health-care worker group (p value < 0.05).

It was concluded that the high expression of CD127 on CD3+ CD4+ cells in chronic HCV infection than in health care-workers may be attributed to TCR trigrring at least in peripheral blood. These results might suggest the existence of different memory T-cells populations in chronic HCV infection that differ in their phenotypical and functional characteristics.

RECOMMENDATIONS The present study was done for assessment of CD127 expression on un-stimulated HCV-specific CD8+ T cells and CD4+ T cells, additional trial is needed using the same protocol with stimulated HCV-specific CD8+ T cells and CD4+ T cells by HCV derived peptide. There is a emmence need to conduction of other cross-sectional studies on alarger number of cases. Further investigations are needed for direct quantitation and characterization of CD127 expression on HCV-specific CD8+ T cells and CD4+ T cells in different clinical outcomes of HCV and correlating this with serological, virological, biochemical, and histological analysis of the patients to extend our understanding of immunopathogenesis as well as the mechanisms of clearance or persistence of HCV. More than that, introduction of sensitive assays for virus-specific cellular immune responses to test for HCV exposure in diverse populations, such HCV-seronegative individuals with liver disease, hemodialysis patients, or blood donors.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major cause of chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma worldwide. It has been estimated that 180 million people are infected globally. In HCV infection, the expression of CD127 considered to serve as a "signatures" for cellular fitness because it demarcates effecter cells that survive in long term and retain functionally responsiveness. In the current study, we aimed to determine the association between CD127+ T-Cells and HCV chronicity. The study was conducted on 60 individuals who were classified into 3 groups; established chronic HCV group, healthy individuals and high risk health-care workers. The study showed there is neither statistical difference in the frequency of CD3+ , CD4+ with and without CD127+ T cells, nor CD3+, CD8+ with and without CD127+ T cells between patients with established chronic HCV infection, healthy individuals and high risk healthcare workers.Hoewevr, there was a significant relation of CD3+ CD4+ T cells with CD127+ between chronic hepatitis C group and high risk health-care worker group (p value < 0.05).

It was concluded that the high expression of CD127 on CD3+ CD4+ cells in chronic HCV infection than in health care-workers may be attributed to TCR trigrring at least in peripheral blood. These results might suggest the existence of different memory T-cells populations in chronic HCV infection that differ in their phenotypical and functional characteristics.

RECOMMENDATIONS The present study was done for assessment of CD127 expression on un-stimulated HCV-specific CD8+ T cells and CD4+ T cells, additional trial is needed using the same protocol with stimulated HCV-specific CD8+ T cells and CD4+ T cells by HCV derived peptide. There is a emmence need to conduction of other cross-sectional studies on alarger number of cases. Further investigations are needed for direct quantitation and characterization of CD127 expression on HCV-specific CD8+ T cells and CD4+ T cells in different clinical outcomes of HCV and correlating this with serological, virological, biochemical, and histological analysis of the patients to extend our understanding of immunopathogenesis as well as the mechanisms of clearance or persistence of HCV. More than that, introduction of sensitive assays for virus-specific cellular immune responses to test for HCV exposure in diverse populations, such HCV-seronegative individuals with liver disease, hemodialysis patients, or blood donors.