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Teng W, Jeng WJ, Chen WT, Lin CC, Lin CY, Lin SM, Sheen IS. Soluble form of CTLA-4 is a good predictor for tumor recurrence after radiofrequency ablation in hepatocellular carcinoma patients. Cancer Med 2022; 11:3786-3795. [PMID: 35435327 PMCID: PMC9582685 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.4760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A soluble form of cytotoxic-T-lymphocyte-antigen-4 (sCTLA-4) is a prognostic biomarker for several cancers but remains unclear in HCC patients. The aim of study is to evaluate the predictive role of serum sCTLA-4 levels for tumor recurrence of chronic hepatis C (CHC)-HCC patients receiving radiofrequency ablation (RFA). MATERIAL AND METHOD A prospective study recruiting 88 CHC-HCC patients was done between 2013 and 2019. Cox regression analysis was used to determine the predictors of early recurrence. All tests were two-tailed, and the level of statistical significance was set as p < 0.05. RESULTS During a median follow-up of 44.4 months, 53 of the 88 (60.2%) CHC-HCC patients encountered early recurrence within 2 years. The predictability of sCTLA-4 for local recurrence (LR) and intrahepatic metastasis (IHM) by 2-years using AUROC curve analysis were 0.740 and 0.715, respectively. Patients with high sCTLA-4 levels (>9 ng/ml) encountered shorter recurrence-free survival (RFS) for LR (log-rank p = 0.017) but paradoxically longer RFS for IHM (log-rank p = 0.007) compared to those with low levels (≤9 ng/ml). By multivariate Cox regression analysis, sCTLA-4 levels and antiviral therapy were independent prognostic factor of early recurrence both in LR and IHM. A combination of baseline sCTLA-4 and AFP level could improve the predictability of early LR and IHM with specificity of 80.0% and 79.7% and positive predictive value of 63.3% and 67.3%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS sCTLA-4 level is a good predictor for early HCC recurrence with higher levels indicating susceptibility to early LR, but protecting from early IHM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Teng
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Medical Center, TaoYuan, Taiwan.,Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang-Ming Chiao-Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.,College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Juei Jeng
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Medical Center, TaoYuan, Taiwan.,Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang-Ming Chiao-Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.,College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Ting Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Medical Center, TaoYuan, Taiwan.,College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Chen-Chun Lin
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Medical Center, TaoYuan, Taiwan.,College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Yen Lin
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Medical Center, TaoYuan, Taiwan.,College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Shi-Ming Lin
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Medical Center, TaoYuan, Taiwan.,College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - I-Shyan Sheen
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Medical Center, TaoYuan, Taiwan.,College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
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Telatin V, Nicoli F, Frasson C, Menegotto N, Barbaro F, Castelli E, Erne E, Palù G, Caputo A. In Chronic Hepatitis C Infection, Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cell Accumulation and T Cell Dysfunctions Revert Partially and Late After Successful Direct-Acting Antiviral Treatment. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2019; 9:190. [PMID: 31259160 PMCID: PMC6588015 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2019.00190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2019] [Accepted: 05/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic HCV infection is characterized by several immunological alterations, such as the accumulation of suppressor cells and of hyperactivated T lymphocytes. However, it is unclear whether direct-acting antiviral (DAA)-mediated HCV clearance restores immune dysfunctions. We performed a phenotypic characterization by flow cytometry of different immune cell subsets, including monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (M-MDSCs) and T lymphocytes in 168 patients with persistent HCV infection not treated, under DAA therapies and sustained virological responders. Chronic HCV infection prompted the accumulation of M-MDSCs independently of patient and clinical characteristics, and altered their metabolic properties. HCV RNA was undetectable in the majority of patients just after few weeks of DAA therapy, whereas M-MDSC levels normalized only 6 months after therapy. In addition, HCV infection deeply perturbed the T cell compartment since a re-distribution of memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells was observed at the expenses of naïve cells, and memory T lymphocytes displayed increased activation. Notably, these features were only partially restored by DAA therapies in the CD4, but not in the CD8, compartment as high immune activation levels persisted in the terminally differentiated memory CD8+ T cells even more than 1 year after sustained virological response. Together, these results suggest that successful DAA therapies do not lead to full immunological reconstitution as fast as viral clearance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Telatin
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Francesco Nicoli
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Chiara Frasson
- Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica (IRP) Città della Speranza, Padova, Italy
| | - Nicola Menegotto
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Francesco Barbaro
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera di Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Eleonora Castelli
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera di Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Elke Erne
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera di Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Giorgio Palù
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Antonella Caputo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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Hartling HJ, Ballegaard VC, Nielsen NS, Gaardbo JC, Nielsen SD. Immune regulation in chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Scand J Gastroenterol 2016; 51:1387-97. [PMID: 27436030 DOI: 10.3109/00365521.2016.1170875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The immunological result of infection with Hepatitis C virus (HCV) depends on the delicate balance between a vigorous immune response that may clear the infection, but with a risk of unspecific inflammation and, or a less inflammatory response that leads to chronic infection. In general, exhaustion and impairment of cytotoxic function of HCV-specific T cells and NK cells are found in patients with chronic HCV infection. In contrast, an increase in immune regulatory functions is found primarily in form of increased IL-10 production possibly due to increased level and function of anti-inflammatory Tregs. Thus, the major immune players during chronic HCV infection are characterized by a decrease of cytotoxic function and increase of inhibitory functions. This may be an approach to diminish intrahepatic and systemic inflammation. Finally, there has been increasing awareness of regulatory functions of epigenetic changes in chronic HCV infection. A vast amount of studies have revealed the complexity of immune regulation in chronic HCV infection, but the interplay between immune regulation in virus and host remains incompletely understood. This review provides an overview of regulatory functions of HCV-specific T cells, NK cells, Tregs, IL-10, and TGF-β, as well as epigenetic changes in the setting of chronic HCV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans Jakob Hartling
- a Viro-Immunology Research Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases , University of Copenhagen , Rigshospitalet , Denmark
| | - Vibe Cecilie Ballegaard
- a Viro-Immunology Research Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases , University of Copenhagen , Rigshospitalet , Denmark
| | - Nick Schou Nielsen
- a Viro-Immunology Research Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases , University of Copenhagen , Rigshospitalet , Denmark
| | - Julie Christine Gaardbo
- a Viro-Immunology Research Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases , University of Copenhagen , Rigshospitalet , Denmark
| | - Susanne Dam Nielsen
- a Viro-Immunology Research Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases , University of Copenhagen , Rigshospitalet , Denmark
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