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Lara-Aguilar V, Valle-Millares D, Crespo-Bermejo C, Grande-García S, Llamas-Adán M, Cortijo-Alfonso ME, Martín-Carbonero L, Domínguez L, Ryan P, de Los Santos I, Bartolomé-Sánchez S, Vidal-Alcántara EJ, Jiménez-Sousa MA, Fernández-Rodríguez A, Briz V. Dynamics of cellular senescence markers after HCV elimination spontaneously or by DAAs in people living with HIV. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 162:114664. [PMID: 37031491 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We identified that acute or chronic Hepatitis C (HCV) infection in people living with HIV (PLWHIV) results in different senescence profiles. However, variations in these profiles after HCV elimination, spontaneously or with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), remain unclear. METHODS Longitudinal observational study (48 weeks) in 70 PLWHIV: 23 PLWHIV with active HCV-chronic infection (CHC) before and after HCV eradication with DAAs, 12 PLWHIV who spontaneously clarify the HCV (SC), and 35 controls (HIV). Oxidative stress was quantified at DNA, lipid, protein, and nitrate levels, as well as the antioxidant capacity and glutathione enzyme. The replicative senescence was evaluated by relative telomere length measurement by PCR and twenty-six factors related to Senescence-Associated Secretory Phenotype (SASP) were characterized by Luminex. Differences in senescence markers was evaluated by generalized linear models. RESULTS During follow-up, the SC group achieved a significant improvement in glutathione enzyme and lipid peroxidation. The secretion of SASP markers increased but was still lower than that of the HIV group. Overall, the CHC group reduced the levels of oxidative stress and SASP markers to levels like those of the HIV group. No significant differences in telomere shortening were observed between groups. CONCLUSIONS As the time since spontaneous resolution of HCV infection increased, patients had an improved senescence profile compared to the HIV group. Elimination of chronic HCV infection by DAAs led to a partial improvement of the senescent profile by restoring oxidative stress levels. However, although some SASP markers reached levels like those of the HIV group, others remained altered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Violeta Lara-Aguilar
- Viral Hepatitis Reference and Research Laboratory, National Center for Microbiology, Institute of Health Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Daniel Valle-Millares
- Viral Hepatitis Reference and Research Laboratory, National Center for Microbiology, Institute of Health Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Celia Crespo-Bermejo
- Viral Hepatitis Reference and Research Laboratory, National Center for Microbiology, Institute of Health Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sergio Grande-García
- Viral Hepatitis Reference and Research Laboratory, National Center for Microbiology, Institute of Health Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel Llamas-Adán
- Viral Hepatitis Reference and Research Laboratory, National Center for Microbiology, Institute of Health Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - María Engracia Cortijo-Alfonso
- Viral Hepatitis Reference and Research Laboratory, National Center for Microbiology, Institute of Health Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Lourdes Domínguez
- HIV Unit, Internal Medicine Service, Biomedical Research Institute of the Doce de Octubre Hospital (imas12), Madrid, Spain; King's College London University, UK
| | - Pablo Ryan
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Department of Infectious Diseases, HIV/Hepatitis Internal Medicine Service, Infanta Leonor University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ignacio de Los Santos
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Department of Internal Medicine-Infectious Diseases, Hospital Universitario de La Princesa, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sofía Bartolomé-Sánchez
- Viral Hepatitis Reference and Research Laboratory, National Center for Microbiology, Institute of Health Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Erick Joan Vidal-Alcántara
- Pneumococcus Unit, Vaccine-Preventable Bacterial Infections, National Center for Microbiology, Institute of Health Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - María Angeles Jiménez-Sousa
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Viral Infection and Immunity Unit, National Center for Microbiology, Institute of Health Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Amanda Fernández-Rodríguez
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Viral Infection and Immunity Unit, National Center for Microbiology, Institute of Health Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Verónica Briz
- Viral Hepatitis Reference and Research Laboratory, National Center for Microbiology, Institute of Health Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
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Bolina-Santos E, Chaves DG, da Silva-Malta MCF, Carmo RA, Barbosa-Stancioli EF, Lobato Martins M. HCV infection in hemophilia A patients is associated with altered cytokines and chemokines profile and might modulate the levels of FVIII inhibitor. J Med Virol 2021; 94:683-691. [PMID: 34738645 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.27432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is high in hemophilia A patients and the development of FVIII inhibitor is another challenge in the management of these individuals. The influence of HCV infection in the occurrence of inhibitors was investigated by the comparison of clinical and laboratory data from noninfected (NI, n = 96) and chronically HCV-infected (HCV, n = 58) hemophilia A patients. Concentrations of plasmatic cytokines (IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, TNF, IFN-γ, and IL-17A) and chemokines (CCL2, CCL5, CXCL8, CXCL9, and CXCL10) were quantified from patients' samples. The results showed that older age, use of cryoprecipitate and fresh frozen plasma, and severe hemophilia were associated with HCV infection, whereas exclusive use of virus inactivated clotting factors was a protector factor to acquiring HCV infection. HCV infection was strongly associated with low levels of inhibitor (OR = 20.53, p < 0.001). Patients with a history of inhibitor (INB+) presented a mixed immune profile characterized by higher levels of pro-and anti-inflammatory cytokines than those without a history of inhibitor (INB-). The highest levels of CCL2 and CXCL8 were seen in HCVINB- , whereas CXCL9 and CXCL10 in HCVINB+ . Heatmap analysis of the set of cytokines and chemokines concentration distributed HCV patients into two distinct clusters, HCVINB+ and HCVINB- , both characterized by low concentrations of IL-4, while noninfected patients were grouped in a single block regardless of inhibitor development history (NIINB-/INB+ ). This finding suggests that the strong association between HCV infection and low levels of factor VIII inhibitors might be due to the modulation of the cytokine and chemokine network established by the antiviral response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduarda Bolina-Santos
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Laboratório de Virologia Básica e Aplicada, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Daniel G Chaves
- Serviço de Pesquisa, Gerência de Desenvolvimento Técnico Científico, Fundação Hemominas, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Maria C F da Silva-Malta
- Serviço de Pesquisa, Gerência de Desenvolvimento Técnico Científico, Fundação Hemominas, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Ricardo A Carmo
- Ambulatório de Infectologia, Hemocentro de Belo Horizonte, Fundação Hemominas, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Edel F Barbosa-Stancioli
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Laboratório de Virologia Básica e Aplicada, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Marina Lobato Martins
- Serviço de Pesquisa, Gerência de Desenvolvimento Técnico Científico, Fundação Hemominas, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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Sepulveda-Crespo D, Resino S, Martinez I. Innate Immune Response against Hepatitis C Virus: Targets for Vaccine Adjuvants. Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:vaccines8020313. [PMID: 32560440 PMCID: PMC7350220 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8020313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Revised: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite successful treatments, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections continue to be a significant world health problem. High treatment costs, the high number of undiagnosed individuals, and the difficulty to access to treatment, particularly in marginalized susceptible populations, make it improbable to achieve the global control of the virus in the absence of an effective preventive vaccine. Current vaccine development is mostly focused on weakly immunogenic subunits, such as surface glycoproteins or non-structural proteins, in the case of HCV. Adjuvants are critical components of vaccine formulations that increase immunogenic performance. As we learn more information about how adjuvants work, it is becoming clear that proper stimulation of innate immunity is crucial to achieving a successful immunization. Several hepatic cell types participate in the early innate immune response and the subsequent inflammation and activation of the adaptive response, principally hepatocytes, and antigen-presenting cells (Kupffer cells, and dendritic cells). Innate pattern recognition receptors on these cells, mainly toll-like receptors, are targets for new promising adjuvants. Moreover, complex adjuvants that stimulate different components of the innate immunity are showing encouraging results and are being incorporated in current vaccines. Recent studies on HCV-vaccine adjuvants have shown that the induction of a strong T- and B-cell immune response might be enhanced by choosing the right adjuvant.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Salvador Resino
- Correspondence: (S.R.); (I.M.); Tel.: +34-91-8223266 (S.R.); +34-91-8223272 (I.M.); Fax: +34-91-5097919 (S.R. & I.M.)
| | - Isidoro Martinez
- Correspondence: (S.R.); (I.M.); Tel.: +34-91-8223266 (S.R.); +34-91-8223272 (I.M.); Fax: +34-91-5097919 (S.R. & I.M.)
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Nivolumab in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma and chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2020; 69:983-988. [PMID: 32078017 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-020-02521-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 02/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatitis C virus (HCV) interferes with activation of innate and adaptive immune responses. Theoretically, the efficacy and toxicity of immune checkpoint inhibitors in cancer patients infected with HCV may differ. Nevertheless, HCV was an exclusion criterion in most checkpoint inhibitor trials. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of nivolumab in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) patients with or without chronic HCV infection. METHODS In a matched cohort study, data were collected from 174 patients, retrospectively. All patients had clear-cell mRCC, chronic HCV infection (case study group), no evidence of other malignancy or cirrhosis, and had received nivolumab (3 mg/kg every 2 weeks) until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Quantitation of HCV RNA in plasma samples was performed before and during treatment with nivolumab with the automated HCV test (Hoffmann-La Roche, Switzerland). The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). Secondary endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), and rate of grade 3-4 adverse events in study and control cohorts. RESULTS A total of 44 matched patients were included. Groups were well balanced. HCV-infected patients had significantly longer OS and PFS. Median OS was 27.5 (95% CI 25.3-29.7) and 21.7 (20.3-23.1) in study and control groups, respectively (P = 0.005). Median PFS was 7.5 (5.7-9.3) and 4.9 (4-5.8) (P = 0.013). Despite no differences in ORR between groups (27% vs. 23%, P = 0.7), patients with HCV had significantly more durable responses (P = 0.01). Nivolumab was well tolerated in all HCV-positive patients. No unexpected toxicity was observed. Assessment of viral load during nivolumab therapy was available in 14 of 22 (64%) patients with HCV. Nivolumab did not significantly impact HCV concentration (mean change 210 IU/ml, P = 0.82) in the absence of antiviral therapy. CONCLUSIONS The efficacy and safety profiles observed in this study support the administration of nivolumab in mRCC patients infected with HCV and warrant further investigation.
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Chernykh ER, Oleynik EA, Leplina OY, Starostina NM, Ostanin AA. Dendritic cells in the pathogenesis of viral hepatitis C. RUSSIAN JOURNAL OF INFECTION AND IMMUNITY 2019. [DOI: 10.15789/2220-7619-2019-2-239-252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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Chigbu DI, Loonawat R, Sehgal M, Patel D, Jain P. Hepatitis C Virus Infection: Host⁻Virus Interaction and Mechanisms of Viral Persistence. Cells 2019; 8:cells8040376. [PMID: 31027278 PMCID: PMC6523734 DOI: 10.3390/cells8040376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Revised: 03/25/2019] [Accepted: 04/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C (HCV) is a major cause of liver disease, in which a third of individuals with chronic HCV infections may develop liver cirrhosis. In a chronic HCV infection, host immune factors along with the actions of HCV proteins that promote viral persistence and dysregulation of the immune system have an impact on immunopathogenesis of HCV-induced hepatitis. The genome of HCV encodes a single polyprotein, which is translated and processed into structural and nonstructural proteins. These HCV proteins are the target of the innate and adaptive immune system of the host. Retinoic acid-inducible gene-I (RIG-I)-like receptors and Toll-like receptors are the main pattern recognition receptors that recognize HCV pathogen-associated molecular patterns. This interaction results in a downstream cascade that generates antiviral cytokines including interferons. The cytolysis of HCV-infected hepatocytes is mediated by perforin and granzyme B secreted by cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) and natural killer (NK) cells, whereas noncytolytic HCV clearance is mediated by interferon gamma (IFN-γ) secreted by CTL and NK cells. A host-HCV interaction determines whether the acute phase of an HCV infection will undergo complete resolution or progress to the development of viral persistence with a consequential progression to chronic HCV infection. Furthermore, these host-HCV interactions could pose a challenge to developing an HCV vaccine. This review will focus on the role of the innate and adaptive immunity in HCV infection, the failure of the immune response to clear an HCV infection, and the factors that promote viral persistence.
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Affiliation(s)
- DeGaulle I Chigbu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and the Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 West Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA.
- Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University, Elkins Park, PA 19027, USA.
| | - Ronak Loonawat
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and the Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 West Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA.
| | - Mohit Sehgal
- Immunology, Microenvironment & Metastasis Program, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| | - Dip Patel
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and the Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 West Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA.
| | - Pooja Jain
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and the Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 West Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA.
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Irshad M, Gupta P, Irshad K. Immunopathogenesis of Liver Injury During Hepatitis C Virus Infection. Viral Immunol 2019; 32:112-120. [PMID: 30817236 DOI: 10.1089/vim.2018.0124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The present report describes current concepts about the mechanism of liver cell injury caused by host immune response against hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in human beings. This report is based on the observations from experimental studies and follow-up actions on human liver diseases. The results from different investigations suggest that liver injury depends on the presentation of viral antigen and the level of host immune response raised against HCV-related peptides. Both innate and adaptive immunity are triggered to counter the viral onset. During development of host immunity, the cell-mediated immune response involving CD4+ Th1 cells and CD8+ cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) cells were found to play a major role in causing liver damage. The hepatic Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) subsets are involved in the immune regulation of different liver diseases: viral hepatitis, mechanical liver injury, and fibrosis. Humoral immunity and natural killer (NK) cell action also contributed in liver cell injury by antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). In fact, immunopathogenesis of HCV infection is a complex phenomenon where regulation of immune response at several steps decides the possibility of viral elimination or persistence. Regulation of immune response was noted starting from viral-host interaction to immune reaction cascade engaged in cell damage. The activation or suppression of interferon-stimulated genes, NK cell action, CTL inducement by regulatory T cells (Treg), B cell proliferation, and so on was demonstrated during HCV infection. Involvement of HLA in antigen presentation, as well as types of viral genotypes, also influenced host immune response against HCV peptides. The combined effect of all these effector mechanisms ultimately decides the progression of viral onset to acute or chronic infection. In conclusion, immunopathogenesis of liver injury after HCV infection may be ascribed mainly to host immune response. Second, it is cell-mediated immunity that plays a predominant role in liver cell damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Irshad
- 1 Department of Laboratory Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Priyanka Gupta
- 2 Clinical Biochemistry Division, Department of Laboratory Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Khushboo Irshad
- 3 Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
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Qin L, Zhou YC, Wu HJ, Zhuo Y, Wang YP, Si CY, Qin YM. Notch Signaling Modulates the Balance of Regulatory T Cells and T Helper 17 Cells in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C. DNA Cell Biol 2017; 36:311-320. [PMID: 28157396 DOI: 10.1089/dna.2016.3609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The imbalance of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and T helper 17 (Th17) cells contributes to the persistent hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However, modulatory factors associated with Tregs-Th17 balance were not fully elucidated. A recent study demonstrated an immunoregulatory strategy by inactivation of Notch signaling to reverse the disequilibrium of Tregs-Th17 cells in immune thrombocytopenia. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the effect of Notch signaling in regulating the functions of Tregs and Th17 cells in chronic hepatitis C. A total of 46 patients with chronic hepatitis C and 17 normal controls (NCs) were enrolled. mRNA expressions of Notch1 and Notch2 were semiquantified by real-time reserve polymerase chain reaction. Percentages of Tregs-Th17, levels of key transcriptional factors, and cytokine productions were measured in response to treatment by DAPT, a γ-secretase inhibitor to suppress Notch signaling. We found that Notch1 and Notch2 mRNAs were significantly elevated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from chronic hepatitis C patients compared with those from NCs. DAPT treatment reduced Th17 response by downregulation of RORγt expression and interleukin (IL)-17/IL-22 secretion. Tregs proportion, FoxP3 expression, and IL-10 production did not change significantly with DAPT treatment in chronic hepatitis C; however, blockage of Notch signaling inhibited the suppressive function of Tregs. Moreover, effective anti-HCV therapy not only reduced Notch1 and Notch2 expression but also decreased Tregs and Th17 proportions. The current data provided a novel mechanism underlying the modulation of Treg-Th17 balance. The link between Notch signaling and Th cells might lead to a new intervention for breaking immunotolerance of chronic HCV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Qin
- 1 Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University , Weihui, Xinxiang, China
| | - Yan-Cai Zhou
- 2 Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University , Weihui, Xinxiang, China
| | - Hong-Jie Wu
- 2 Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University , Weihui, Xinxiang, China
| | - Ya Zhuo
- 2 Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University , Weihui, Xinxiang, China
| | - Yan-Ping Wang
- 2 Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University , Weihui, Xinxiang, China
| | - Chang-Yun Si
- 2 Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University , Weihui, Xinxiang, China
| | - Yong-Mei Qin
- 1 Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University , Weihui, Xinxiang, China
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Ghareeb DA, Elwakeel EH, Khalil R, Aziz MS, El demellawy MA. Investigation of the Immunomodulatory effect of Berberis vulgaris on core-pulsed dendritic cell vaccine. BMC COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2016; 16:325. [PMID: 27577059 PMCID: PMC5004255 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-016-1327-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2015] [Accepted: 08/26/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Virus-induced dendritic cells (DCs) functional deficiency leads to sub-optimal initiation of adaptive immune responses and consequently chronic infection establishment. The present study reports an advanced hepatitis C virus (HCV) therapeutic vaccine model based on In vivo enrichment of DCs with barberry ethanolic crude extract (BCE) then pulsing them with HCV core protein. METHODS DCs were enriched by BCE intravenous injection in BALB/c mice. Vaccine efficiency was assessed by flow cytometric analysis of splenocytes of immunized mice, cytokine profiling, cytotoxic T lymphocyte assay, and humoral immune response assessment. RESULTS There was no significant difference in surface phenotypic characterization of splenocytes from mice immunized with non-BCE-enriched-core-pulsed DCs (iDcs-core) compared to those from mice injected with RPMI-1640 medium. However, splenocytes from mice immunized with BCE-enriched-core-pulsed DCs showed 197 % increase in CD16+ population, 33 % increase in MHCII(+) population, and 43 % decrease in CD3(+) population. In iDCs-core group, 57.9 % greater anti-core cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity, up-regulation in interferon gamma and interleukin (IL) -12 expression, and down-regulation in IL-4 and IL-10 were recorded. Moreover, sustained specific anti-core antibodies were detected only in sera of the same group. CONCLUSIONS results indicate that BCE-enriched-core-transduced DCs may serve as a new model for immunotherapy of HCV chronic infection.
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