CD4+/CD25+ T cells suppress autologous CD4+/CD25− lymphocytes and secrete granzyme B during acute and chronic hepatitis C. Issue 2 (11th August 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Perrella, Alessandro; D'Antonio, Anna; Sbreglia, Costanza; Sorrentino, Paolo; Conca, Paolo; Atripaldi, Luigi; Conti, Pio; Perrella, Oreste
• Is Part Of: Pathogens and disease. Volume 72:Issue 2(2014:Nov.)
• Page Start: 124
• Page End: 130
• Publication Date: 2014-08-11
• Subjects: Medical microbiology -- Periodicals; Pathogenic microorganisms -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases -- Microbiology -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases -- Pathogenesis -- Periodicals; Host-parasite relationships -- Periodicals; Systems biology -- Periodicals; 616.904105
• DOI: 10.1111/2049-632X.12190
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2049-632X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="fim12190-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>We aimed to verify whether CD4⁺/CD25⁺ T cells suppress CD4⁺ T cells and secrete Granzyme B (GZB) during acute and chronic hepatitis C (CHC) infection. We enrolled 50 subjects: 20 patients with CHC (Group A), 15 healthy individuals (Group B), 10 patients with acute hepatitis C later evolved to persistent infection (Group C) and five patients who resolved hepatitis C virus infection during acute phase (Group D). We analysed, on enrolled subjects CD4⁺/CD25⁺ T cells and related GZB production as well as Annexin V activity. Patients from Groups A and C had higher frequency and function of peripheral Treg cells than healthy individuals. Groups A and C showed an increase in spot‐forming colonies (SFCs) of GZB compared with Group B (<italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.01, Mann–Whitney <italic>U</italic>‐test). CD4⁺/CD25⁺ T cells in Group D had a lower number of GZB SFCs compared with Groups A and C but higher number than Group B (<italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.01 Mann–Whitney <italic>U</italic>‐test). Annexin V production was higher in Groups A and C than B or D. Patients having acute and chronic hepatitis C have a higher Treg frequency and function in peripheral blood than healthy controls or those resolving the infection in acute phase secreting GZB, probably inducing apoptosis.</p> </abstract>