INTRODUCTION: Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a critical role in chronic viral infections. The role of Tregs in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is unknown. This study examined the distribution and frequency of forkhead box p3(+) (Foxp3(+)) Tregs in the liver tissue and compared the clinicopathological characteristics of CHB and CHC patients. METHODS: Liver needle biopsies were obtained from 26 patients who were hepatitis B surface antigen positive and 27 patients who were hepatitis C virus antibody positive. RESULTS: The ratio of Foxp3(+) Tregs in CD3(+) T cells was similar in HBV and in HCV cases. In HBV cases, the variables that were positively associated with the ratio of Foxp3(+) Tregs in CD3(+) T cells included the serum alanine aminotransferase level (R=0.402, P=0.025) and the ratio of CD8(+) T cell plus CD56(+) NK cell against CD4(+) T cell (R=0.53, P=0.005). The ratio of Foxp3(+) Tregs in CD3(+) T cells increased more in the severe activity group than in the mild activity group (P=0.04). In HCV cases, the ratio of Foxp3(+) Tregs in CD3(+) T cells increased significantly in terms of the genotype2 (P=0.0002) and male gender (P=0.04). In addition, the ratio of Foxp3(+) Tregs in CD3(+) T cells showed a negative correlation with the ratio of CD8(+) T cell plus CD56(+) NK cell against CD4(+) T cell (R=-0.508, P=0.005) and HCV viral load (R=-0.482, P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Liver-targeted regulatory T cells present similarly in CHB and CHC, but their relationship with the effector cell population, the inflammation grade or the viral load is different between CHB and CHC.
INTRODUCTION: Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a critical role in chronic viral infections. The role of Tregs in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is unknown. This study examined the distribution and frequency of forkhead box p3(+) (Foxp3(+)) Tregs in the liver tissue and compared the clinicopathological characteristics of CHB and CHCpatients. METHODS: Liver needle biopsies were obtained from 26 patients who were hepatitis B surface antigen positive and 27 patients who were hepatitis C virus antibody positive. RESULTS: The ratio of Foxp3(+) Tregs in CD3(+) T cells was similar in HBV and in HCV cases. In HBV cases, the variables that were positively associated with the ratio of Foxp3(+) Tregs in CD3(+) T cells included the serum alanine aminotransferase level (R=0.402, P=0.025) and the ratio of CD8(+) T cell plus CD56(+) NK cell against CD4(+) T cell (R=0.53, P=0.005). The ratio of Foxp3(+) Tregs in CD3(+) T cells increased more in the severe activity group than in the mild activity group (P=0.04). In HCV cases, the ratio of Foxp3(+) Tregs in CD3(+) T cells increased significantly in terms of the genotype2 (P=0.0002) and male gender (P=0.04). In addition, the ratio of Foxp3(+) Tregs in CD3(+) T cells showed a negative correlation with the ratio of CD8(+) T cell plus CD56(+) NK cell against CD4(+) T cell (R=-0.508, P=0.005) and HCV viral load (R=-0.482, P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Liver-targeted regulatory T cells present similarly in CHB and CHC, but their relationship with the effector cell population, the inflammation grade or the viral load is different between CHB and CHC.
Authors: Amy C Sherman; Nirupama Trehanpati; Marybeth Daucher; Richard T Davey; Henry Masur; Shiv Kumar Sarin; Shyam Kottilil; Anita Kohli Journal: AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses Date: 2013-02-11 Impact factor: 2.205
Authors: Leonn M S Pereira; Ednelza da Silva Graça Amoras; Simone R S da Silva Conde; Sâmia Demachki; Jaqueline C Monteiro; Rosimar N Martins-Feitosa; Andrea N M R da Silva; Ricardo Ishak; Antonio C R Vallinoto Journal: Front Immunol Date: 2018-09-04 Impact factor: 7.561
Authors: Yan Xia; Xi Jin; Xueyuan Yu; Xingku Li; Bo Du; Zhen Liu; Yuguang Shi; Na Li; Shuyun Zhang Journal: Medicine (Baltimore) Date: 2018-07 Impact factor: 1.889