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PubMed ID:
17659573
Public Release Type:
Journal
Publication Year: 2007
Affiliation: Integrated Program in Immunology and Hepatitis C Research Center, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Colorado, Denver, CO, USA. hugo.rosen@uchsc.edu
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1002/hep.21714
Authors:
Im K,
Yang H,
Burton JR Jr,
Erlich H,
Klarquist J,
Rosen HR,
Virahep-C Study Group,
Belle SH,
Weston SJ
Studies:
Viral Resistance to Antiviral Therapy of Chronic Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a leading cause of chronic hepatitis, end-stage liver disease, and hepatocellular carcinoma throughout the world. Considerable evidence indicates that the risk of viral persistence, natural history, and response to antiviral therapy varies among racial groups, but limited data exist on potential mechanisms to account for these differences. Type 1 helper (Th1) responses to HCV proteins and cytomegalovirus (CMV) antigens were examined using a sensitive interferon (IFN)-gamma enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay in 187 Caucasian American (CA) and 187 African American (AA) patients with chronic genotype 1 infection. ELISPOT responses were examined relative to human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II alleles and outcome of therapy with pegylated IFN and ribavirin. Th1 responses specific to hepatitis C core protein and combined HCV antigens were significantly lower in AAs compared to CAs, but CMV responses were comparable in the 2 races. The HCV difference in immunity remained after adjusting for gender, serum alanine aminotransferase, histologic severity, and viral level, and was not accounted for by the differential prevalence of human leukocyte antigen class II alleles. Pretreatment total HCV-specific CD4+ T cell response was associated with sustained virologic response (SVR) to pegylated IFN and ribavirin; 43% of patients who had more than 168 ELISPOTs/10(6) peripheral blood mononuclear cells (above background) experienced SVR compared to 28% of those who did not (P= 0.007). ELISPOT response was independently associated with SVR by multivariable analysis.
