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Marion O, Abravanel F, Del Bello A, Esposito L, Lhomme S, Puissant-Lubrano B, Alric L, Faguer S, Izopet J, Kamar N. Hepatitis E virus-associated cryoglobulinemia in solid-organ-transplant recipients. Liver Int 2018; 38:2178-2189. [PMID: 29845733 DOI: 10.1111/liv.13894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2018] [Accepted: 05/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS An association between hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection and cryoglobulinemia has been suggested. The aims of this study were to assess the prevalence of cryoglobulinemia during HEV infection in solid-organ-transplant (SOT) recipients, to describe its outcomes under ribavirin therapy and to evaluate its effects on kidney function and histology. METHODS Between November 2005 and June 2016, 128 cases of HEV infection were diagnosed among SOT recipients followed in our institution. Cryoglobulinemia data obtained from 66 patients during acute-phase HEV and 51 patients during chronic-phase HEV were compared to a historical control group of 89 SOT recipients without HEV markers. Cryoglobulins were also monitored in a group of 43 patients treated by ribavirin. RESULTS The prevalence of cryoglobulinemia was increased in HEV-infected SOT patients during a chronic phase (52.9%) compared to HEV-infected SOT patients at acute phase (36.4%) (P = .1) and to HEV-negative SOT patients (23.6%) (P < .001). HEV infection was identified as an independent predictive factor for cryoglobulinemia (OR 2.3, CI 95%: 1.17-4.55, P = .02). After ribavirin therapy and HEV clearance, the prevalence of cryoglobulin was significantly decreased from 53.5% to 20.9% (P = .003). Kidney function was significantly worse and proteinuria tended to be higher in chronically HEV-infected patients with cryoglobulinemia compared to those without cryoglobulinemia. Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis was diagnosed in 2 patients, of which 1 had detectable cryoglobulinemia. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, a relationship between HEV and cryoglobulin formation seems to exist. However, the clinical impact of cryoglobulinemia in SOT patients infected with HEV has to be confirmed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Marion
- Department of Nephrology and Organ Transplantation, CHU Rangueil, Toulouse, France.,Centre de Physiopathologie de Toulouse Purpan, Inserm UMR1043, Toulouse, France
| | - Florence Abravanel
- Centre de Physiopathologie de Toulouse Purpan, Inserm UMR1043, Toulouse, France.,Laboratory of Virology, CHU Purpan, Toulouse, France.,Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Arnaud Del Bello
- Department of Nephrology and Organ Transplantation, CHU Rangueil, Toulouse, France
| | - Laure Esposito
- Department of Nephrology and Organ Transplantation, CHU Rangueil, Toulouse, France
| | - Sebastien Lhomme
- Centre de Physiopathologie de Toulouse Purpan, Inserm UMR1043, Toulouse, France.,Laboratory of Virology, CHU Purpan, Toulouse, France.,Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | | | - Laurent Alric
- Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France.,Internal Medicine-Digestive Department, CHU Purpan, Toulouse, France
| | - Stanislas Faguer
- Department of Nephrology and Organ Transplantation, CHU Rangueil, Toulouse, France.,Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Jacques Izopet
- Centre de Physiopathologie de Toulouse Purpan, Inserm UMR1043, Toulouse, France.,Laboratory of Virology, CHU Purpan, Toulouse, France.,Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Nassim Kamar
- Department of Nephrology and Organ Transplantation, CHU Rangueil, Toulouse, France.,Centre de Physiopathologie de Toulouse Purpan, Inserm UMR1043, Toulouse, France.,Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
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Bonacci M, Lens S, Londoño MC, Mariño Z, Cid MC, Ramos-Casals M, Sánchez-Tapias JM, Forns X, Hernández-Rodríguez J. Virologic, Clinical, and Immune Response Outcomes of Patients With Hepatitis C Virus-Associated Cryoglobulinemia Treated With Direct-Acting Antivirals. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2017; 15:575-583.e1. [PMID: 27725289 DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2016.09.158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2016] [Accepted: 09/19/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Cryoglobulins (circulating immune complexes of polyclonal IgG, monoclonal IgM, and rheumatoid factor) are detected in the circulation of 40% to 60% of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection, and cryoglobulinemic vasculitis (CV) is observed in approximately 10% of patients. We aimed to assess the clinical and immune effects of direct-acting antiviral treatment. METHODS We performed a prospective study of 64 patients with HCV infection with circulating cryoglobulins receiving direct-acting antiviral therapy at a single center in Barcelona, Spain, from January 2014 through April 2016. Patients were classified as having CV (n = 35) or asymptomatic circulating cryoglobulins (ACC, n = 29). Clinical response was considered complete if a patient's Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (version 3) was 0, or if all affected organs improved 12 weeks after the end of therapy. A complete immunologic response (CIR) was defined as no detection of circulating cryoglobulins and normalized levels of complement and/or rheumatoid factor. RESULTS Clinical manifestations of CV included purpura (65%), weakness (70%), arthralgia (31%), myalgia (20%), peripheral neuropathy (50%), and renal involvement (20%). At baseline, patients with CV had significantly higher levels of rheumatoid factor and lower levels of C4 complement than patients with ACC, whereas cryocrits were similar between groups (3.2% vs 2.6%). Overall, 60 patients (94%) had a sustained viral response 12 weeks after therapy. Among patients with CV, the median Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (version 3) decreased from 9 (range, 2-31) to 3 (range, 0-12) (P < .001). Twenty-five patients with CV (71%) achieved a complete clinical response. Immune-suppressive therapy was reduced for 4 of 13 patients and withdrawn for 6 of 13. Overall, 48% of patients achieved a CIR. A low baseline cryocrit level (<2.7%) was the only factor associated with CIR (odds ratio, 9.8; 95% confidence interval, 2.2-44; P = .03). CONCLUSIONS Viral eradication was associated with clinical improvement in most patients with CV. Markers of immune activation, including circulating cryoglobulins, persisted in 52% of patients with CV or ACC, despite a sustained viral response 12 weeks after therapy. A longer follow-up period after viral eradication might be necessary to ensure a normal immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martín Bonacci
- Liver Unit, Hospital Clinic, Institut d'Investigacions Biomédiques August Pi i Sunyer, Centro de Investigación en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sabela Lens
- Liver Unit, Hospital Clinic, Institut d'Investigacions Biomédiques August Pi i Sunyer, Centro de Investigación en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - María-Carlota Londoño
- Liver Unit, Hospital Clinic, Institut d'Investigacions Biomédiques August Pi i Sunyer, Centro de Investigación en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Zoe Mariño
- Liver Unit, Hospital Clinic, Institut d'Investigacions Biomédiques August Pi i Sunyer, Centro de Investigación en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria C Cid
- Vasculitis Research Unit, Department of Autoimmune Diseases, Hospital Clínic, Institut d'Investigacions Biomédiques August Pi i Sunyer, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Manuel Ramos-Casals
- Department of Autoimmune Diseases, Hospital Clínic, Laboratory of Autoimmune Diseases Josep Font, Institut d'Investigacions Biomédiques August Pi i Sunyer-CELLEX, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jose María Sánchez-Tapias
- Liver Unit, Hospital Clinic, Institut d'Investigacions Biomédiques August Pi i Sunyer, Centro de Investigación en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xavier Forns
- Liver Unit, Hospital Clinic, Institut d'Investigacions Biomédiques August Pi i Sunyer, Centro de Investigación en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - José Hernández-Rodríguez
- Vasculitis Research Unit, Department of Autoimmune Diseases, Hospital Clínic, Institut d'Investigacions Biomédiques August Pi i Sunyer, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Kayali Z, Labrecque DR, Schmidt WN. Treatment of hepatitis C cryoglobulinemia: mission and challenges. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 9:497-507. [PMID: 17081483 DOI: 10.1007/s11938-006-0006-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC) is a syndrome resulting from cold-insoluble immunoglobulin complexes or cryoglobulins (CGs) that precipitate in the serum of 40% to 50% of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The pathogenesis of cryoglobulinemia likely occurs due to chronic viremia and generation of rheumatoid factor following continuous presentation of antigen-immunoglobulin complexes to B cells. CGs are thought to be responsible for a variety of extrahepatic manifestations associated with HCV, including vasculitis, glomerulonephritis, arthritis, and neuropathies, which occur in approximately 10% of HCV patients with CGs. CGs also are a powerful predictive factor for progressive liver disease and the aggressive reoccurrence of liver disease in HCV-positive patients after liver transplantation. First-line therapy for MC due to HCV infection is antiviral therapy with pegylated interferon-alpha and ribavirin. Viral eradication usually produces marked reduction of physical complications and arrests end organ damage concomitant with clearance of CG. Additional prospective, controlled studies are necessary to determine whether CG influences patient virologic response and/or its durability to antiviral therapy. Immunomodulators such as corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide are efficacious for palliative treatment of the symptomatology of HCV cryoglobulinemia but may enhance viral replication. Consequently, prolonged therapy with immunomodulatory agents should be limited to severe vasculitis or aggressive glomerulonephritis in patients with MC due to HCV who have failed to respond to antiviral therapy. In acute, fulminant presentations, plasmapheresis may provide temporary relief and arrest the rapid progression of the disease so that additional therapy can be initiated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeid Kayali
- Division of GI/Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, 200 Hawkins Drive, 4553 JCP, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
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King E, Trabue C, Yin D, Yao ZQ, Moorman JP. Hepatitis C: the complications of immune dysfunction. Expert Rev Clin Immunol 2010; 3:145-57. [PMID: 20477104 DOI: 10.1586/1744666x.3.2.145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been linked to numerous diseases of immune dysfunction, including, but not limited to, essential mixed cryoglobulinemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Clinical studies support these associations and treatment of the underlying HCV infection has been variably successful. Recent studies, focusing on the role of HCV gene products, have discovered evidence of dysregulated responses in multiple aspects of host immunity that may be contributing to the genesis of these diseases. Novel treatments that target these areas of dysregulation offer hope for improved therapy for the diseases associated with immunodysregulation by HCV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellis King
- East Tennessee State University, Department of Internal Medicine, James H. Quillen College of Medicine, Box 70622, Johnson City, TN 37614, USA.
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Moorman J, Dong ZP, Ni L, Zhang C, Borthwick T, Yao ZQ. Abnormal B-cell activation associated with TALL-1 over-expression and SOCS-1 suppression during chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Immunology 2009; 128:227-35. [PMID: 19740379 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2567.2009.03106.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with cirrhosis, autoimmunity and lymphoproliferative disorders. We have previously reported a differential regulation of T and B lymphocytes by HCV core protein in vitro. In this report, we employed a translational approach to characterize the activation status of peripheral B cells from individuals with chronic HCV infection and to explore potential mechanisms for B-cell dysregulation in the setting of HCV infection. In contrast to the T-cell suppression observed in HCV-infected individuals, B cells exhibit a non-specific polyclonal activation phenotype, characterized by significantly higher levels of (1) the early activation marker, CD69, (2) the costimulatory molecule, CD86, and (3) the CCR5 chemokine receptor, CD195, when compared with B cells from healthy donors in response to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) stimulation. Importantly, tumour necrosis factor- and Apo-L-related leucocyte-expressed ligand-1 (TALL-1), also known as B-lymphocyte stimulator (BLYS), was found to be up-regulated on the surface of B cells from HCV patients in response to PHA as well as HCV core antigen stimulation. This up-regulation of TALL-1 was associated with vigorous memory B-cell responses to viral antigenic stimulation. Additionally, suppressor of cytokine signalling-1 (SOCS-1), a negative feedback immunoregulator that is inhibited in B lymphocytes by HCV core in vitro, was also inhibited in B cells from HCV patients when compared with healthy donors. These findings suggest that TALL-1 over-expression and SOCS-1 suppression are associated with aberrant B-cell activation, providing a plausible basis for the B-cell clonal expansion underlying the lymphoproliferative disorders and autoimmune phenomena observed during chronic HCV infection.
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Abstract
Hepatitis C is a leading indication for transplantation and a common cause of liver-related death worldwide. Treatment for hepatitis C has evolved from interferon therapy alone, which yielded relatively poor response rates compared with the currently recommended and more effective combination of pegylated interferon and ribavirin. Factors such as hepatitis C viral genotype, pretreatment viral load, race, renal function, degree of hepatic fibrosis, and comorbid conditions such as HIV coinfection have clinical importance in that they influence viral kinetics, which play a large role in determining a sustained response to therapy or virologic "cure." However, the goal of therapy is to reduce liver-related morbidity and mortality by decreasing rates of progression or improvement of fibrosis, reducing risk of hepatocellular carcinoma, improving posttransplant graft and patient survival, and resolving or improving some of the extrahepatic manifestations of hepatitis C. Studies generally infer long-term success from the more tangible goal of sustained viral suppression; however, increasing data suggest that effective therapy does result in decreased morbidity and mortality. Given the heterogeneity of patients who are infected with hepatitis C, treatment decisions should be specifically tailored to each individual patient on the basis of their predisposing conditions and anticipated clinical outcomes.
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Yao ZQ, Prayther D, Trabue C, Dong ZP, Moorman J. Differential regulation of SOCS-1 signalling in B and T lymphocytes by hepatitis C virus core protein. Immunology 2008; 125:197-207. [PMID: 18397267 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2567.2008.02829.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is characterized by a strong propensity toward chronicity, autoimmune phenomena and lymphomagenesis, supporting a role for lymphocyte dysregulation during persistent viral infection. We have shown that HCV core protein inhibits T-cell functions through interaction with a complement receptor, gC1qR. Here, we further report that B cells also express gC1qR that can be bound by HCV core protein. Importantly, using flow cytometry, we demonstrated differential regulation of B and T lymphocytes by the HCV core-gC1qR interaction, with down-regulation of CD69 activation in T cells but up-regulation of CD69 activation and cell proliferation in B cells. HCV core treatment led to decreased interferon-gamma production in CD8+ T cells but to increased immunoglobulin M and immunoglobulin G production as well as cell surface expression of costimulatory and chemokine receptors, including CD86 (B7-2), CD154 (CD40L) and CD195 (CCR5), in CD20+ B cells. Finally, we showed down-regulation of suppressor of cytokine signalling-1 (SOCS-1) using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, accompanied by up-regulation of signal transducer and activator of transcription-1 (STAT1) phosphorylation in B cells in response to HCV core protein, with the opposite pattern observed in HCV core-treated T cells. This study demonstrates differential regulation of B and T lymphocytes by HCV core and supports a mechanism by which lymphocyte dysregulation occurs in the course of persistent HCV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Qiang Yao
- Medical Service, James H. Quillen VAMC, and Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, James H. Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN 37614, USA
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