Kuo-Chih Tseng1, Yun-Che Ho2, Chi-Wei Tseng1, Ling-Huei Tseng2, Yu-Hsi Hsieh1, Ting-Tsung Chang3, Shu-Fen Wu4. 1. Department of Internal Medicine, Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Chia-Yi, Taiwan; School of Medicine, Tzuchi University, Hualien, Taiwan. 2. Department of Life Science and Institute of Molecular Biology, National Chung Cheng University, No. 168, University Rd, Min-Hsiung, Chia-Yi, 62102, Taiwan. 3. Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Medical College and Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan; Infectious Disease and Signaling Research Center, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan. 4. Department of Life Science and Institute of Molecular Biology, National Chung Cheng University, No. 168, University Rd, Min-Hsiung, Chia-Yi, 62102, Taiwan. Electronic address: biosfw@ccu.edu.tw.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Regulatory T-cells (Tregs) play an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) infection. Pegylated interferon is the standard therapy for CHC patients in Asian countries. This study aimed to evaluate the frequency and function of Tregs in CHC patients receiving combination therapy. METHODS: CHC patients (n=30) who had elevated alanine aminotransferase and underwent combination therapy were included. Clinical data and Treg function were checked at baseline, 12 weeks after treatment, at the end of treatment, and at the end of 24 weeks of follow-up. Treg immunosuppressive activity was measured as the inhibition ratio of conventional T-cell proliferation. RESULTS: Treg-mediated immunosuppression was significantly lower during therapy than at baseline (baseline 44.45%; 12 weeks 18.41% (p=0.042); end of treatment 22.62% (p=0.036); end of follow-up 17.46% (p=0.003)). Treg-mediated immunosuppression was higher in patients with a sustained virological response (SVR) than in those without SVR at the end of follow-up (SVR 24.20%, non-SVR 6.87%; p=0.030). CONCLUSION: Treg-mediated immunosuppression was lower during and after combination therapy, regardless of the treatment response, and higher in patients with SVR than in those without SVR at the end of follow-up.
OBJECTIVES: Regulatory T-cells (Tregs) play an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) infection. Pegylated interferon is the standard therapy for CHCpatients in Asian countries. This study aimed to evaluate the frequency and function of Tregs in CHCpatients receiving combination therapy. METHODS:CHCpatients (n=30) who had elevated alanine aminotransferase and underwent combination therapy were included. Clinical data and Treg function were checked at baseline, 12 weeks after treatment, at the end of treatment, and at the end of 24 weeks of follow-up. Treg immunosuppressive activity was measured as the inhibition ratio of conventional T-cell proliferation. RESULTS: Treg-mediated immunosuppression was significantly lower during therapy than at baseline (baseline 44.45%; 12 weeks 18.41% (p=0.042); end of treatment 22.62% (p=0.036); end of follow-up 17.46% (p=0.003)). Treg-mediated immunosuppression was higher in patients with a sustained virological response (SVR) than in those without SVR at the end of follow-up (SVR 24.20%, non-SVR 6.87%; p=0.030). CONCLUSION: Treg-mediated immunosuppression was lower during and after combination therapy, regardless of the treatment response, and higher in patients with SVR than in those without SVR at the end of follow-up.