1
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Malekshahi A, Alamdary A, Safarzadeh A, Khavandegar A, Nikoo HR, Safavi M, Ajorloo M, Bahavar A, Ajorloo M. Potential roles of core and core+1 proteins during the chronic phase of hepatitis C virus infection. Future Virol 2023. [DOI: 10.2217/fvl-2022-0117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
The HCV Core protein is a multifunctional protein that interacts with many viral and cellular proteins. In addition to the encapsidation of the viral genome, it can disturb various cellular pathways and impede antiviral cellular responses such as interferon (IFN) production. The Core protein can also disrupt the functions of immune cells against HCV. The Core protein helps viral infection persistency by interfering with apoptosis. The Core+1 protein plays a significant role in inducing chronic HCV infection through diverse mechanisms. We review some of the mechanisms by which Core and Core+1 proteins facilitate HCV infection to chronic infection. These proteins could be considered for designing more sufficient treatments and effective vaccines against HCV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asra Malekshahi
- Student Research Committee, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
| | - Ashkan Alamdary
- Department of Biology, Science & Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Safarzadeh
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Armin Khavandegar
- Student Research Committee, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
| | - Hadi Razavi Nikoo
- Infectious Disease Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
| | - Mahshid Safavi
- Student Research Committee, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
| | - Mobina Ajorloo
- Student Research Committee, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
| | - Atefeh Bahavar
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
| | - Mehdi Ajorloo
- Blood Transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Tehran, Iran
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2
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Grubczak K, Grzeszczuk A, Groth M, Hryniewicz A, Kretowska-Grunwald A, Flisiak R, Moniuszko M. Effects of Pegylated Interferon Alpha and Ribavirin (pegIFN-α/RBV) Therapeutic Approach on Regulatory T Cells in HCV-Monoinfected and HCV/HIV-Coinfected Patients. Viruses 2021; 13:v13081448. [PMID: 34452314 PMCID: PMC8402834 DOI: 10.3390/v13081448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 07/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Approximately 25% of HIV-infected patients are co-infected with HCV. Notably, the burden of HCV infection (e.g., viral persistence, viral load, or HCV-related liver symptoms) is more pronounced in the presence of HIV co-infection. However, to date, the underlying immune mechanisms accounting for accelerated disease progression in HIV/HCV-coinfected individuals have not been described in sufficient detail. We hypothesized that regulatory T cells (Treg) bearing potent immunosuppressive capacities could not only play a substantial role in the pathogenesis of HCV/HIV coinfection but also modulate the response to the standard anti-viral therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS To this end, we studied alterations in frequencies of Treg cells in correlation with other Treg-related and virus-related parameters in both HCV and HCV/HIV-infected patients subjected to standard pegIFN-α/RBV therapy. RESULTS Notably, we found that pegIFN-α/RBV therapy significantly increased levels of Treg cells in HCV-infected but not in HIV/HCV-coinfected individuals. Furthermore, HIV/HCV-coinfection was demonstrated to inhibit expansion of regulatory T cells during anti-viral treatment; thus, it might probably be responsible for viral persistence and HCV-related liver damage. CONCLUSIONS Therapy with pegIFN-α/RBV demonstrated a significant effect on regulatory T cells in the course of HIV and/or HCV infection indicating a crucial role in the anti-viral immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamil Grubczak
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Immune Regulation, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-269 Białystok, Poland;
- Correspondence: (K.G.); (M.M.); Tel./Fax: +48-85-748-59-72 (K.G. & M.M.)
| | - Anna Grzeszczuk
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Neuroinfections, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-540 Bialystok, Poland;
| | - Monika Groth
- Department of Allergology and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-089 Bialystok, Poland;
| | - Anna Hryniewicz
- Department of Rehabilitation, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-089 Bialystok, Poland;
| | - Anna Kretowska-Grunwald
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Immune Regulation, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-269 Białystok, Poland;
| | - Robert Flisiak
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-540 Bialystok, Poland;
| | - Marcin Moniuszko
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Immune Regulation, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-269 Białystok, Poland;
- Department of Allergology and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-089 Bialystok, Poland;
- Correspondence: (K.G.); (M.M.); Tel./Fax: +48-85-748-59-72 (K.G. & M.M.)
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3
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Peña-Asensio J, Calvo H, Torralba M, Miquel J, Sanz-de-Villalobos E, Larrubia JR. Gamma-Chain Receptor Cytokines & PD-1 Manipulation to Restore HCV-Specific CD8 + T Cell Response during Chronic Hepatitis C. Cells 2021; 10:cells10030538. [PMID: 33802622 PMCID: PMC8001543 DOI: 10.3390/cells10030538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-specific CD8+ T cell response is essential in natural HCV infection control, but it becomes exhausted during persistent infection. Nowadays, chronic HCV infection can be resolved by direct acting anti-viral treatment, but there are still some non-responders that could benefit from CD8+ T cell response restoration. To become fully reactive, T cell needs the complete release of T cell receptor (TCR) signalling but, during exhaustion this is blocked by the PD-1 effect on CD28 triggering. The T cell pool sensitive to PD-1 modulation is the progenitor subset but not the terminally differentiated effector population. Nevertheless, the blockade of PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint cannot be always enough to restore this pool. This is due to the HCV ability to impair other co-stimulatory mechanisms and metabolic pathways and to induce a pro-apoptotic state besides the TCR signalling impairment. In this sense, gamma-chain receptor cytokines involved in memory generation and maintenance, such as low-level IL-2, IL-7, IL-15, and IL-21, might carry out a positive effect on metabolic reprogramming, apoptosis blockade and restoration of co-stimulatory signalling. This review sheds light on the role of combinatory immunotherapeutic strategies to restore a reactive anti-HCV T cell response based on the mixture of PD-1 blocking plus IL-2/IL-7/IL-15/IL-21 treatment.
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MESH Headings
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/therapeutic use
- B7-H1 Antigen/antagonists & inhibitors
- B7-H1 Antigen/genetics
- B7-H1 Antigen/immunology
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/drug effects
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/virology
- Gene Expression Regulation
- Hepacivirus/immunology
- Hepacivirus/pathogenicity
- Hepatitis C, Chronic/drug therapy
- Hepatitis C, Chronic/genetics
- Hepatitis C, Chronic/immunology
- Hepatitis C, Chronic/virology
- Host-Pathogen Interactions/drug effects
- Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics
- Host-Pathogen Interactions/immunology
- Humans
- Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors/therapeutic use
- Immunity, Cellular/drug effects
- Immunotherapy/methods
- Interleukins/genetics
- Interleukins/immunology
- Interleukins/therapeutic use
- Lymphocyte Activation/drug effects
- Precursor Cells, T-Lymphoid/drug effects
- Precursor Cells, T-Lymphoid/immunology
- Precursor Cells, T-Lymphoid/virology
- Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor/antagonists & inhibitors
- Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor/genetics
- Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor/immunology
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta/agonists
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta/genetics
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta/immunology
- Signal Transduction
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Peña-Asensio
- Translational Hepatology Unit, Guadalajara University Hospital, E-19002 Guadalajara, Spain; (J.P.-A.); (H.C.); (M.T.); (J.M.); (E.S.-d.-V.)
- Department of Biology of Systems, University of Alcalá, E-28805 Alcalá de Henares, Spain
| | - Henar Calvo
- Translational Hepatology Unit, Guadalajara University Hospital, E-19002 Guadalajara, Spain; (J.P.-A.); (H.C.); (M.T.); (J.M.); (E.S.-d.-V.)
- Section of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Guadalajara University Hospital, E-19002 Guadalajara, Spain
| | - Miguel Torralba
- Translational Hepatology Unit, Guadalajara University Hospital, E-19002 Guadalajara, Spain; (J.P.-A.); (H.C.); (M.T.); (J.M.); (E.S.-d.-V.)
- Service of Internal Medicine, Guadalajara University Hospital, E-19002 Guadalajara, Spain
- Department of Medicine & Medical Specialties, University of Alcalá, E-28805 Alcalá de Henares, Spain
| | - Joaquín Miquel
- Translational Hepatology Unit, Guadalajara University Hospital, E-19002 Guadalajara, Spain; (J.P.-A.); (H.C.); (M.T.); (J.M.); (E.S.-d.-V.)
- Section of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Guadalajara University Hospital, E-19002 Guadalajara, Spain
| | - Eduardo Sanz-de-Villalobos
- Translational Hepatology Unit, Guadalajara University Hospital, E-19002 Guadalajara, Spain; (J.P.-A.); (H.C.); (M.T.); (J.M.); (E.S.-d.-V.)
- Section of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Guadalajara University Hospital, E-19002 Guadalajara, Spain
| | - Juan-Ramón Larrubia
- Translational Hepatology Unit, Guadalajara University Hospital, E-19002 Guadalajara, Spain; (J.P.-A.); (H.C.); (M.T.); (J.M.); (E.S.-d.-V.)
- Section of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Guadalajara University Hospital, E-19002 Guadalajara, Spain
- Department of Medicine & Medical Specialties, University of Alcalá, E-28805 Alcalá de Henares, Spain
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-949-20-9200
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4
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Essa S, Al-Attiyah R, Siddique I, Al-Nakib W. Modulation of Immune Cell Subsets by Hepatitis C Virus and Antiviral Therapy in Early Virological Response HCV Genotype 4-Infected Patients with Compensated Liver Disease. Med Princ Pract 2021; 30:168-177. [PMID: 32966988 PMCID: PMC8114070 DOI: 10.1159/000511783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Resolution of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection requires a complicated interaction between immune cell subsets. The effect of antiviral therapy on immune cell subsets remains to be defined. This study aimed to investigate the absolute count of certain immune cell subsets during therapy with pegylated interferon-α and ribavirin (PegIFN/RBV). MATERIALS AND METHODS Sixty HCV genotype 4-infected patients with compensated liver disease were treated with PegIFN/RBV therapy for 52 weeks. Efficacy was measured by studying the early virological response (EVR) at post-therapy week 12. Absolute counts of mature T cells, T helper cells, T cytotoxic cells, activated T cells, natural killer cells, natural killer/T (NKT) cells, B cells, and T regulatory cells (Treg), and the ratio of T helper to T cytotoxic cells were longitudinally analyzed by flow cytometry throughout the treatment and follow-up course. RESULTS Of the 60 genotype 4-infected subjects, 39 (65%) had EVR and 21 (35%) were non-EVR patients. In the first part of this study, there were significantly lower mean absolute count values of mature T, T cytotoxic, B, and NKT cells. Also, we detected statistically significantly lower mean values for the percentages of T cytotoxic, NKT, Treg, and activated T cells of HCV-infected patients at baseline values when compared with healthy subjects. After the initiation of PegIFN/RBV therapy, frequencies of T helper cells, activated T cells, Treg cells, B cells, and T helper:T cytotoxic ratio were found to be significantly lower in EVR patients than in non-EVR patients (p < 0.05). In contrast, frequencies of T cytotoxic and NKT cells were significantly increased in EVR patients when compared to non-EVR patients (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION These results suggest a pattern of higher levels of T cytotoxic and NKT cells, and lower levels of T helper, activated T, Treg, and B cell populations in patients who respond favorably to PegIFN/RBV therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahar Essa
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, , Kuwait University, Safat, Kuwait,
| | - Raja'a Al-Attiyah
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, , Kuwait University, Safat, Kuwait
| | - Iqbal Siddique
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Safat, Kuwait
- Thunayan Al-Ghanim Gastroenterology Center, Al-Amiri Hospital, Safat, Kuwait
| | - Widad Al-Nakib
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, , Kuwait University, Safat, Kuwait
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5
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Drescher HK, Bartsch LM, Weiskirchen S, Weiskirchen R. Intrahepatic T H17/T Reg Cells in Homeostasis and Disease-It's All About the Balance. Front Pharmacol 2020; 11:588436. [PMID: 33123017 PMCID: PMC7566778 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.588436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Both acute and chronic hepatic inflammation likely result from an imbalance in the TH1/TH2 cell response and can lead to liver fibrosis and end-stage liver disease. More recently, a novel CD4+ T helper cell subset was described, characterized by the production of IL-17 and IL-22. These TH17 cells 50were predominantly implicated in host defense against infections and in autoimmune diseases. Interestingly, studies over the last 10 years revealed that the development of TH17 cells favors pro-inflammatory responses in almost all tissues and there is a reciprocal relationship between TH17 and TReg cells. The balance between TH17and TReg cells is critical for immune reactions, especially in injured liver tissue and the return to immune homeostasis. The pathogenic contribution of TH17 and TReg cells in autoimmunity, acute infection, and chronic liver injury is diverse and varies among disease etiologies. Understanding the mechanisms underlying TH17 cell development, recruitment, and maintenance, along with the suppression of TReg cells, will inform the development of new therapeutic strategies in liver diseases. Active manipulation of the balance between pathogenic and regulatory processes in the liver may assist in the restoration of homeostasis, especially in hepatic inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah K Drescher
- Division of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Lea M Bartsch
- Division of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Sabine Weiskirchen
- Institute of Molecular Pathobiochemistry, Experimental Gene Therapy and Clinical Chemistry (IFMPEGKC), University Hospital, RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Ralf Weiskirchen
- Institute of Molecular Pathobiochemistry, Experimental Gene Therapy and Clinical Chemistry (IFMPEGKC), University Hospital, RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
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6
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Cho H, Kang H, Kim JY, Kim HY, Kim CW. FoxP3, PD-1 and CTLA-4 are decreased significantly after a tenofovir therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B. Future Virol 2020. [DOI: 10.2217/fvl-2019-0128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Background: FoxP3, PD-1 and CTLA-4 are upregulated in chronic viral infections, such as chronic HCV, chronic HBV and HIV infection. Materials & methods: During 1 year of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis B, we investigated the expression of FoxP3, PD-1 and CTLA-4. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated from the 30 study subjects at T0 (0 months), T3, T6 and T12 months after the commencement of TDF treatment. Results & conclusion: Expression of FoxP3, PD-1 and CTLA-4 was significantly decreased in T cells of patients with chronic hepatitis B under TDF treatment at T12, when compared with that at T0. A direct correlation was observed between FoxP3 and CTLA-4 expression in patients with chronic hepatitis B and the frequency of FoxP3 was positively associated with serum alanine aminotransferase levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyosun Cho
- Department of Pharmacy, Duksung Women’s University College of Pharmacy, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Pharmacy, Duksung Innovative Drug Center, Duksung Women’s University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyojeung Kang
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences & Institute for Microorganisms, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Y Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hee Y Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Chang W Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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7
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Clayton SM, Archard JA, Wagner J, Farwell DG, Bewley AF, Beliveau A, Birkeland A, Rao S, Abouyared M, Belafsky PC, Anderson JD. Immunoregulatory Potential of Exosomes Derived from Cancer Stem Cells. Stem Cells Dev 2020; 29:327-335. [PMID: 31856674 PMCID: PMC7081244 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2019.0197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) are malignancies that originate in the mucosal lining of the upper aerodigestive tract. Despite advances in therapeutic interventions, survival rates among HNSCC patients have remained static for years. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are tumor-initiating cells that are highly resistant to treatment, and are hypothesized to contribute to a significant fraction of tumor recurrences. Consequently, further investigations of how CSCs mediate recurrence may provide insights into novel druggable targets. A key element of recurrence involves the tumor's ability to evade immunosurveillance. Recent published reports suggest that CSCs possess immunosuppressive properties, however, the underlying mechanism have yet to be fully elucidated. To date, most groups have focused on the role of CSC-derived secretory proteins, such as cytokines and growth factors. Here, we review the established immunoregulatory role of exosomes derived from mixed tumor cell populations, and propose further study of CSC-derived exosomes may be warranted. Such studies may yield novel insights into new druggable targets, or lay the foundation for future exosome-based diagnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon M. Clayton
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California
| | - Joehleen A. Archard
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California
| | - Joseph Wagner
- University of California Drug Discovery Consortium, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California
| | - D. Gregory Farwell
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California
| | - Arnaud F. Bewley
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California
| | - Angela Beliveau
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California
| | - Andrew Birkeland
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California
| | - Shyam Rao
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California
| | - Marianne Abouyared
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California
| | - Peter C. Belafsky
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California
| | - Johnathon D. Anderson
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California
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8
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Smith BM, Lyle MJ, Chen AC, Miao CH. Antigen-specific in vitro expansion of factor VIII-specific regulatory T cells induces tolerance in hemophilia A mice. J Thromb Haemost 2020; 18:328-340. [PMID: 31609041 PMCID: PMC6994379 DOI: 10.1111/jth.14659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Revised: 09/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Following protein replacement therapy, one-third of severe hemophilia A patients develop antibodies to factor VIII (FVIII), which also hinders the efficacy of gene therapy. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) have a naturally suppressive function that potentially reduces the immune response to FVIII therapy. Furthermore, antigen-specific Tregs are functionally much more potent than polyclonal cells. Adoptive transfer of antigen-specific Tregs can effectively suppress anti-FVIII antibody responses. OBJECTIVE Develop a clinically feasible protocol to enrich and expand Tregs specific to FVIII for suppressing anti-FVIII immune responses. METHODS Regulatory T cells are isolated from FVIII-sensitized mice, sorted on CD25high markers, and expanded specifically with FVIII, antigen-presenting cells, and interleukin 2 (IL 2). Subsequently, Tregs are further cultured with anti-CD3/anti-CD28 beads, anti-Crry antibodies, and IL 2 to achieve 10-fold to 20-fold expansion. Expanded Tregs are characterized and tested for their suppressive activity in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS In vitro FVIII-specific suppressive assays indicate that FVIII specifically expanded Tregs are more suppressive than non-specifically expanded and naive Tregs. Adoptive transfer of expanded Tregs into HemA mice showed that FVIII-specifically expanded Tregs are significantly more potent in suppressing anti-FVIII immune responses in FVIII plasmid-treated HemA mice. Moreover, the FVIII-specific immune tolerance is maintained after a secondary challenge with FVIII plasmid. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate that the FVIII-specific sensitization and expansion protocol yields more potent Tregs to suppress anti-FVIII antibody responses and induce long-term tolerance to FVIII, increasing the potential for adoptive Treg cell therapy to modulate anti-FVIII immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryn M Smith
- Center for Immunity and Immunotherapies, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington
| | - Meghan J Lyle
- Center for Immunity and Immunotherapies, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington
| | - Alex C Chen
- Center for Immunity and Immunotherapies, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington
| | - Carol H Miao
- Center for Immunity and Immunotherapies, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
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9
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Hassuna NA, Mansour M, Ahmed TI, Hassan EA, Hefzy MM, Abd Elghani WM, Hefzy EM. Chronic Hepatitis C Infection Has No Effect on Peripheral CD4 +CD25 + Tregulatory Cells in Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease. Immunol Invest 2019; 49:477-488. [PMID: 31694423 DOI: 10.1080/08820139.2019.1674324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Background: T regulatory cells (Tregs), through variable mechanisms, play a crucial role in Hepatitis C virus (HCV) chronicity and infection tolerance. A great speculation is posed regarding the level, role of Tregs in end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and the presence of associated factors that could influence the Tregs population. Accordingly, we aimed at studying the effect of HCV infection on peripheral CD4+CD25+Tregs population among patients on hemodialysis (HD) as well as the effect of other comorbidities on these cells.Patients and methods: A group of 77 patients on HD (32 were HD HCV+ and 45 were HD HCV-) and 80 healthy controls (HCs) were included in the study. Flow cytometric analysis was performed for identification and quantification of peripheral CD4+ CD25+Tregs.Results: The frequency of CD4+ CD25+Tregs increased significantly in HD patients compared to the HCs (p = <.0001 each). HCV posed no effect on peripheral CD4+ CD25+ Tregs in ESRD patients, when comparing HD HCV- and HD HCV+ groups. In the hypertensive HD HCV-, Tregs percentage was higher than that in the non-hypertensive. However, the difference was not statistically significant. No significant difference was detected between HD HCV- and HD HCV+ patients on the count and percentages of Tregs according to the duration of dialysis.Conclusion: Demonstrating that chronic HCV infection has no effect on CD4+ CD25+ Tregs cells levels in ESRD patients is of great importance to the success of future allografts in such patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noha A Hassuna
- Medical Microbiology and Immunology Dept., Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Minia, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Mansour
- Clinical Pathology Dept., Faculty of Medicine, Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt
| | - Tarek I Ahmed
- Internal Medicine Dept., Faculty of Medicine, Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt
| | - Essam A Hassan
- Tropical Medicine Dept., Faculty of Medicine, Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt
| | - Mohamed M Hefzy
- Nephrology Dept., Thumbay Hospital, Gulf University, Ajmon, UAE
| | - Wael M Abd Elghani
- Tropical Medicine Dept., Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Minia, Egypt
| | - Enas M Hefzy
- Medical. Microbiology and Immunology Dept., Faculty of Medicine, Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt
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10
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Zhang J, Liu W, Xie T, Huang L, Hu Y, Wen B, Tang P, Guo F, Jin K, Zhang P, Niu L, Liu Z, Qu X. Elevated LAG-3 on CD4 + T cells negatively correlates with neutralizing antibody response during HCV infection. Immunol Lett 2019; 212:46-52. [PMID: 31216427 DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2019.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2018] [Revised: 05/27/2019] [Accepted: 06/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG-3), an inhibitory molecule, which has been shown co-expressed with multiple inhibitory receptors on CD8+ T and natural killer (NK) cells and negatively regulates T and NK cell responses during hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However, whether LAG-3 is involved in the regulation of the antibody response remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the relationship of LAG-3 with neutralizing antibody (nAb) response during HCV infection. A total of 66 HCV-infected individuals and 36 sex- and age-matched healthy controls from a population of intravenous drug users were recruited. Circulating follicular helper T (cTfh) cells and LAG-3-expressing CD4+ T cells, type 1 regulatory T (Tr1) cells, and regulatory T (Treg) cells were characterized by flow cytometry. Serum nAb response of HCV-infected individuals was determined using pseudoparticle neutralization assays. We found that HCV infection enhanced LAG-3 expression on CD4+ T cells and exhibited regulatory T cell-like phenotype and inversely associated with the HCV nAb response. Further analysis showed that frequency of CXCR3+ cTfh cells positively correlated with nAb response, however LAG-3+ CD4+ T cells inversely associated with CXCR3+ cTfh cells. This study observed that LAG-3+ CD4+ T cells exhibit a regulatory cell phenotype and negatively associate with the HCV nAb response, implying that LAG-3 may be involved in the negative regulation of humoral immunity during HCV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Zhang
- Translational Medicine Institute, The First People's Hospital of Chenzhou, University of South China, Chenzhou, Hunan, 423000, China
| | - Wenpei Liu
- Translational Medicine Institute, The First People's Hospital of Chenzhou, University of South China, Chenzhou, Hunan, 423000, China; Affiliated The First People's Hospital of Chenzhou, Southern Medical University, Chenzhou, Hunan, 423000, China
| | - Ting Xie
- Translational Medicine Institute, The First People's Hospital of Chenzhou, University of South China, Chenzhou, Hunan, 423000, China
| | - Liyan Huang
- Translational Medicine Institute, The First People's Hospital of Chenzhou, University of South China, Chenzhou, Hunan, 423000, China
| | - Yabin Hu
- Translational Medicine Institute, The First People's Hospital of Chenzhou, University of South China, Chenzhou, Hunan, 423000, China
| | - Bo Wen
- Translational Medicine Institute, The First People's Hospital of Chenzhou, University of South China, Chenzhou, Hunan, 423000, China
| | - Ping Tang
- Translational Medicine Institute, The First People's Hospital of Chenzhou, University of South China, Chenzhou, Hunan, 423000, China
| | - Fengfan Guo
- Translational Medicine Institute, The First People's Hospital of Chenzhou, University of South China, Chenzhou, Hunan, 423000, China
| | - Kun Jin
- Translational Medicine Institute, The First People's Hospital of Chenzhou, University of South China, Chenzhou, Hunan, 423000, China
| | - Ping Zhang
- Translational Medicine Institute, The First People's Hospital of Chenzhou, University of South China, Chenzhou, Hunan, 423000, China
| | - Ling Niu
- Translational Medicine Institute, The First People's Hospital of Chenzhou, University of South China, Chenzhou, Hunan, 423000, China
| | - Ziyan Liu
- Translational Medicine Institute, The First People's Hospital of Chenzhou, University of South China, Chenzhou, Hunan, 423000, China
| | - Xiaowang Qu
- Translational Medicine Institute, The First People's Hospital of Chenzhou, University of South China, Chenzhou, Hunan, 423000, China; Affiliated The First People's Hospital of Chenzhou, Southern Medical University, Chenzhou, Hunan, 423000, China.
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Distinct phenotype and function of circulating Vδ1+ and Vδ2+ γδT-cells in acute and chronic hepatitis B. PLoS Pathog 2019; 15:e1007715. [PMID: 30998783 PMCID: PMC6490945 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2018] [Revised: 04/30/2019] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) persists with global and virus-specific T-cell dysfunction, without T-cell based correlates of outcomes. To determine if γδT-cells are altered in HBV infection relative to clinical status, we examined the frequency, phenotype and function of peripheral blood Vδ1+ and Vδ2+γδT-cells by multi-parameter cytometry in a clinically diverse North American cohort of chronic hepatitis B (CHB), acute hepatitis B (AHB) and uninfected control subjects. We show that circulating γδT-cells were comprised predominantly of CD3hiCD4- Vδ2+γδT-cells with frequencies that were 2–3 fold higher among Asian than non-Asian Americans and inversely correlated with age, but without differences between CHB, AHB and control subjects. However, compared to control subjects, CHB was associated with increased TbethiEomesdim phenotype in Vδ2+γδT-cells whereas AHB was associated with increased TbethiEomesdim phenotype in Vδ1+γδT-cells, with significant correlations between Tbet/Eomes expression in γδT-cells with their expression of NK and T-cell activation and regulatory markers. As for effector functions, IFNγ/TNF responses to phosphoantigens or PMA/Ionomycin in Vδ2+γδT-cells were weaker in AHB but preserved in CHB, without significant differences for Vδ1+γδT-cells. Furthermore, early IFNγ/TNF responses in Vδ2+ γδT-cells to brief PMA/Ionomycin stimulation correlated inversely with serum ALT but not HBV DNA. Accordingly, IFNγ/TNF responses in Vδ2+γδT-cells were weaker in patients with CHB with hepatitis flare compared to those without hepatitis flares, and this functional deficit persisted beyond clinical resolution of CHB flare. We conclude that circulating γδT-cells show distinct activation and differentiatiation in acute and chronic HBV infection as part of lymphoid stress surveillance with potential role in clinical outcomes. We examined circulating γδT-cells in a North American cohort with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and acute hepatitis B (AHB) compared to uninfected control subjects. While frequencies and composition of circulating γδT-cells were preserved in AHB and CHB, γδT-cells showed distinct and innate phenotypes based on the expression of Tbet/Eomes in association with various NK/T-cell markers. Notably, IFNγ/TNF responses to phosphoantigens and PMA/Ionomycin were preserved in CHB, but weaker in AHB compared to uninfected control subjects, in association with NKG2A/CD94 but not PD1. Furthermore, early IFNγ/TNF responses in Vδ2+ γδT-cells to brief PMA/Ionomycin stimulation showed significant inverse correlations with serum alanine aminotransferase, a measure of hepatocellular injury, and were persistently deficient in CHB subjects with hepatitis flare compared to those without such flares. Finally, Vδ2+ γδT-cells were significantly enriched for TbethiEomesdim phenotype in associations with their expression of NK and T-cell activation and regulatory markers, suggesting a role for Tbet in γδT-cell differentiation and function. We conclude that circulating γδT-cells show distinct activation and differentiation in acute and chronic HBV infection as part of lymphoid stress surveillance with potential role in clinical outcomes.
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Sasaki R, Meyer K, Moriyama M, Kato N, Yokosuka O, Ray RB, Aurora R, Ray R, Kanda T. Rapid hepatitis C virus clearance by antivirals correlates with immune status of infected patients. J Med Virol 2019; 91:411-418. [PMID: 30192392 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.25310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 09/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Altered immune parameters associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1b infection and their correlation with virus eradication in direct-acting antivirals (DAA)-treated patients were examined. Thirty-one HCV-infected patients were treated with DAAs for 12 weeks. Pre-DAA-treatment and post-DAA-treatment sera were analyzed for cytokines/chemokines using MILLIPLEX MAP. Serum complement level and antibody neutralization activity were measured separately. Sera from 11 spontaneously cleared HCV subjects were included for comparison. Rapid virological responders (RVR) or end-of-treatment responders (EOTR) were defined as patients with HCV RNA negative at week 4 or positive at week 4 and negative at week 12, respectively. HCV RNA eradication and a decrease in liver fibrosis-related cytokines after treatment were observed when compared with pretreatment sera from RVR and EOTR. In pretreatment sera, interferons and T-helper 1 or 2 cell-associated cytokines/chemokines were significantly higher among RVR as compared with EOTR. Furthermore, serum complement and virus neutralizing antibody levels were higher in pretreatment RVR sera. Eradication of HCV RNA by DAA decreased liver fibrosis-related cytokines. Pretreatment sera from RVR displayed an enhanced cytokine/chemokine, complement and virus neutralizing antibody response as compared with EOTR sera. Our results suggested that enhanced host immune status may play an additive role on HCV RNA clearance by DAA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reina Sasaki
- Department of Pathology, Saint Louis University, St Louis, Missouri
- Department of Internal Medicine, Saint Louis University, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Keith Meyer
- Department of Internal Medicine, Saint Louis University, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Mitsuhiko Moriyama
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Naoya Kato
- Department of Gastroenterology and Nephrology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Osamu Yokosuka
- Department of Gastroenterology and Nephrology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Ratna B Ray
- Department of Pathology, Saint Louis University, St Louis, Missouri
- Department of Internal Medicine, Saint Louis University, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Rajeev Aurora
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Ranjit Ray
- Department of Internal Medicine, Saint Louis University, St Louis, Missouri
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Tatsuo Kanda
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Gastroenterology and Nephrology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
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Dysregulation of the Immune System in HIV/HCV-Coinfected Patients According to Liver Stiffness Status. Cells 2018; 7:cells7110196. [PMID: 30400258 PMCID: PMC6262386 DOI: 10.3390/cells7110196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2018] [Revised: 10/21/2018] [Accepted: 10/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Advanced cirrhosis is related to alterations in immunity. We aimed to evaluate the levels of peripheral CD4+ T cells (Tregs) and plasma cytokine in patients coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus (HIV/HCV) according to liver fibrosis stages [evaluated as liver stiffness measure (LSM)] and their linear relationship. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study on 238 HIV/HCV-coinfected patients (119 had <12.5 kPa, 73 had 12.5–25 kPa, and 46 had >25 kPa). Peripheral T-cell subsets were phenotyped by flow cytometry, plasma biomarkers were assessed by multiplex immunoassays, and LSM was assessed by transient elastography. Results: We found HIV/HCV-coinfected patients had higher values of CD4+ Tregs (p < 0.001), memory Tregs (p ≤ 0.001), and plasma cytokine levels [IFN-γ (p ≤ 0.05) and IL-10 (p ≤ 0.01)] compared with healthy donors and HIV-monoinfected patients. In the multivariate analysis, higher LSM values were associated with reduced levels of IL-10 (adjusted arithmetic mean ratio (aAMR) = 0.83; p = 0.019), IL-2 (aAMR = 0.78; p = 0.017), TNF-α (aAMR = 0.67; p < 0.001), and IL-17A (aAMR = 0.75; p = 0.006). When we focus on HIV/HCV-coinfected patients analyzed by LSM strata, patients with ≥25 kPa had lower values of IL-2 (aAMR = 0.66; p = 0.021), TNF-α (aAMR = 0.565; p = 0.003), and IL-17A (aAMR = 0.58; p = 0.003) than patients with <12.5 kPa. Conclusion: HIV/HCV-coinfected patients showed an immunosuppressive profile compared to healthy controls and HIV-monoinfected patients. Additionally, HIV/HCV-coinfected patients with advanced cirrhosis (LSM ≥ 25 kPa) had the lowest plasma values of cytokines related to Th1 (IL-2 and TNF-α) and Th17 (IL-17A) response.
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Rogers MC, Williams JV. Quis Custodiet Ipsos Custodes? Regulation of Cell-Mediated Immune Responses Following Viral Lung Infections. Annu Rev Virol 2018; 5:363-383. [PMID: 30052492 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-virology-092917-043515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Viral lung infections are leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Effective immune responses to these infections require precise immune regulation to preserve lung function after viral clearance. One component of airway pathophysiology and lung injury associated with acute respiratory virus infection is effector T cells, yet these are the primary cells required for viral clearance. Accordingly, multiple immune mechanisms exist to regulate effector T cells, limiting immunopathology while permitting clearance of infection. Much has been learned in recent years about regulation of T cell function during chronic infection and cancer, and it is now clear that many of these mechanisms also control inflammation in acute lung infection. In this review, we focus on regulatory T cells, inhibitory receptors, and other cells and molecules that regulate cell-mediated immunity in the context of acute respiratory virus infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meredith C Rogers
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15224, USA.,Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, USA;
| | - John V Williams
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15224, USA.,Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15224, USA;
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Abstract
Tight regulation of immune responses is not only critical for preventing autoimmune diseases but also for preventing immunopathological damage during infections in which overactive immune responses may be more harmful for the host than the pathogen itself. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a critical role in this regulation, which was discovered using the Friend retrovirus (FV) mouse model. Subsequent FV studies revealed basic biological information about Tregs, including their suppressive activity on effector cells as well as the molecular mechanisms of virus-induced Treg expansion. Treg suppression not only limits immunopathology but also prevents complete elimination of pathogens contributing to chronic infections. Therefore, Tregs play a complex role in the pathogenesis of persistent retroviral infections. New therapeutic concepts to reactivate effector T-cell responses in chronic viral infections by manipulating Tregs also came from work with the FV model. This knowledge initiated many studies to characterize the role of Tregs in HIV pathogenesis in humans, where a complex picture is emerging. On one hand, Tregs suppress HIV-specific effector T-cell responses and are themselves targets of infection, but on the other hand, Tregs suppress HIV-induced immune hyperactivation and thus slow the infection of conventional CD4+ T cells and limit immunopathology. In this review, the basic findings from the FV mouse model are put into perspective with clinical and basic research from HIV studies. In addition, the few Treg studies performed in the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) monkey model will also be discussed. The review provides a comprehensive picture of the diverse role of Tregs in different retroviral infections and possible therapeutic approaches to treat retroviral chronicity and pathogenesis by manipulating Treg responses. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a very complex role in retroviral infections, and the balance of beneficial versus detrimental effects from Tregs can change between the acute and chronic phase of infection. Therefore, the development of therapeutics to treat chronic retroviral infections via modulation of Tregs requires detailed information regarding both the positive and negative contributions of Tregs in a particular phase of a specific infection. Here, we review the molecular mechanisms that initiate and control Treg responses in retroviral infections as well as the target cells that are functionally manipulated by Tregs. Basic findings from the Friend retrovirus mouse model that initiated this area of research are put into perspective with clinical and basic research from HIV studies. The targeted manipulation of Treg responses holds a bright future for enhancing immune responses to infections, vaccine responses, and for cure or functional cure of chronic retroviral infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim J. Hasenkrug
- Rocky Mountain Laboratories, NIAID, NIH, Hamilton, Montana, United States of America
| | - Claire A. Chougnet
- Division of Immunobiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Ulf Dittmer
- Institute for Virology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- * E-mail:
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Karkhah A, Javanian M, Ebrahimpour S. The role of regulatory T cells in immunopathogenesis and immunotherapy of viral infections. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2018; 59:32-37. [PMID: 29413883 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2018.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2017] [Revised: 01/09/2018] [Accepted: 01/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Two hepatotropic viruses hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) have been considered as the main cause of chronic viral infections. In addition, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) attacks the immune system by eradication of some white blood cell (T-helper cell). The role of Tregs in HCV, HBV and HIV infections ranges from suppressing antiviral T cell responses to protecting tissues as liver and immune cells from immune mediated injury. In this review, we discuss the influence of regulatory T cells in immunopathology of specific viral infections including HCV, HBV and HIV by focusing on targeting Tregs as novel approach in vaccinology against viral infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Karkhah
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran; Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Mostafa Javanian
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol I.R., Iran
| | - Soheil Ebrahimpour
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol I.R., Iran.
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Increased incidence of cytomegalovirus coinfection in HCV-infected patients with late liver fibrosis is associated with dysregulation of JAK-STAT pathway. Sci Rep 2017; 7:10364. [PMID: 28871140 PMCID: PMC5583286 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-10604-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2017] [Accepted: 08/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Herein, we examined the association between cytomegalovirus (CMV) coinfection and the progression of liver fibrosis in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, and investigated the effect of CMV coinfection on JAK-STAT pathway. CMV DNAemia was detected by PCR in DNA from controls (n = 120), and HCV patients with early (F0-F1, n = 131) and late (F2-F4, n = 179) liver fibrosis. By quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR), we examined the profile of 8 JAK-STAT transcripts in PBMCs RNA from 90 HCV patients (39 CMV positive and 51 CMV negative), 4 CMV mono-infected patients, and 15 controls. Our results demonstrated higher incidence of CMV in F2-F4 group than in control (OR 5.479, 95% CI 3.033–9.895, p < 0.0001) or F0-F1 groups (OR 2, 95% CI 1.238–3.181, p = 0.005). qRT-PCR showed downregulation of STAT2 (p = 0.006) and IRF7 (p = 0.02) in CMV positive group compared to CMV negative one. The downregulation of STAT2 and IRF7 was mainly in CMV positive patients with late fibrosis compared to CMV negative patients (p = 0.0007 for IRF7 and p = 0.01 for STAT2). Our results are the first to report that CMV coinfection is a possible risk factor for the progression of HCV-induced liver fibrosis, and thereby CMV screening and treatment are important for HCV patients.
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Modulation of Hepatitis C Virus-Specific CD8 Effector T-Cell Function with Antiviral Effect in Infectious Hepatitis C Virus Coculture Model. J Virol 2017; 91:JVI.02129-16. [PMID: 28275182 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02129-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2016] [Accepted: 02/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The antiviral effects of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-specific CD8 T cells have been shown in an HCV replicon system but not in an authentic infectious HCV cell culture (HCVcc) system. Here, we developed tools to examine the antigenicity of HCV-infected HLA-A2-positive Huh7.5 hepatoma cells (Huh7.5A2 cells) in activating HCV-specific CD8 T cells and the downstream antiviral effects. Infectious HCV epitope mutants encoding the well-defined genotype 1a-derived HLA-A2-restricted HCV NS3-1073 or NS5-2594 epitope were generated from a genotype 2a-derived HCV clone (Jc1Gluc2A) by site-directed mutagenesis. CD8 T-cell lines specific for NS3-1073 and NS5-2594 were expanded from HCV-seropositive persons by peptide stimulation in vitro or engineered from HCV-seronegative donor T cells by transduction of a lentiviral vector expressing HCV-specific T-cell receptors. HCV-specific CD8 T cells were cocultured with Huh7.5 cells that were pulsed with titrating doses of HCV epitope peptides or infected with HCV epitope mutants. HCV-specific CD8 T-cell activation (CD107a, gamma interferon, macrophage inflammatory protein 1β, tumor necrosis factor alpha) was dependent on the peptide concentrations and the relative percentages of HCV-infected Huh7.5A2 cells. HCV-infected Huh7.5A2 cells activated HCV-specific CD8 T cells at levels comparable to those achieved with 0.1 to 2 μM pulsed peptides, providing a novel estimate of the level at which endogenously processed HCV epitopes are presented on HCV-infected cells. While HCV-specific CD8 T-cell activation with cytolytic and antiviral effects was blunted by PD-L1 expression on HCV-infected Huh7.5A2 cells, resulting in the improved viability of Huh7.5A2 cells, PD-1 blockade reversed this effect, producing enhanced cytolytic elimination of HCV-infected Huh7.5A2 cells. Our findings, obtained using an infectious HCVcc system, show that the HCV-specific CD8 T-cell function is modulated by antigen expression levels, the percentage of HCV-infected cells, and the PD-1/PD-L1 pathways and has antiviral and cytotoxic effects.IMPORTANCE We developed several novel molecular and immunological tools to study the interactions among HCV, HCV-infected hepatocytes, and HCV-specific CD8 T cells. Using these tools, we show the level at which HCV-infected hepatoma cells present endogenously processed HCV epitopes to HCV-specific CD8 T cells with antiviral and cytotoxic effects. We also show the marked protective effect of PD-L1 expression on HCV-infected hepatoma cells against HCV-specific CD8 T cells.
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19
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Cho H, Kang H, Kim CW, Kim HY, Jang JW, Yoon SK, Lee CD. Phenotypic Characteristics of PD-1 and CTLA-4 Expression in Symptomatic Acute Hepatitis A. Gut Liver 2016; 10:288-94. [PMID: 26347518 PMCID: PMC4780460 DOI: 10.5009/gnl14368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background/Aims The immunoregulatory molecules programmed death 1 (PD-1) and cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) are associated with the dysfunction of antiviral effector T-cells, which leads to T-cell exhaustion and persistent viral infection in patients with chronic hepatitis C and chronic hepatitis B. Little is known about the role of PD-1 and CTLA-4 in patients with symptomatic acute hepatitis A (AHA). Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated from seven patients with AHA and from six patients with nonviral acute toxic hepatitis (ATH) during the symptomatic and convalescent phases of the respective diseases; five healthy subjects acted as controls. The expression of PD-1 and CTLA-4 on T-cells was measured by flow cytometry. Results PD-1 and CTLA-4 expression during the symptomatic phase was significantly higher in the T-cells of AHA patients than in those of ATH patients or healthy controls (PD-1: 18.3% vs 3.7% vs 1.6%, respectively, p<0.05; CTLA-4: 23.5% vs 6.1% vs 5.9%, respectively, p<0.05). The levels of both molecules decreased dramatically during the convalescent phase of AHA, whereas a similar pattern was not seen in ATH. Conclusions Our findings are consistent with a viral-protective effect of PD-1 and CTLA-4 as inhibitory molecules that suppress cytotoxic T-cells and thereby prevent the destruction of virus-infected hepatocytes in AHA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyosun Cho
- Department of Pharmacy, Duksung Women's University College of Pharmacy, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hyojeung Kang
- Department of Pharmacy, Kyungpook National University College of Pharmacy, Daegu, Korea
| | - Chang Wook Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hee Yeon Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jeong Won Jang
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Seung Kew Yoon
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Chang Don Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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Jung MK, Shin EC. Regulatory T Cells in Hepatitis B and C Virus Infections. Immune Netw 2016; 16:330-336. [PMID: 28035208 PMCID: PMC5195842 DOI: 10.4110/in.2016.16.6.330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2016] [Revised: 09/21/2016] [Accepted: 10/02/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are hepatotropic viruses that establish chronic persistent infection by effectively escaping the host immune response and can cause immune-mediated liver injury. It has recently become apparent that regulatory T (Treg) cells, specifically CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg cells, modulate viral diseases by suppressing antiviral immune responses and regulating inflammatory host injury. The roles of Treg cells in HBV and HCV infections range from suppressing antiviral T cell responses to protecting the liver from immune-mediated damage. This review describes Treg cells and subpopulations and focuses on the roles of these cells in HBV and HCV infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Kyung Jung
- Laboratory of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, KAIST, Daejeon 34141, Korea
| | - Eui-Cheol Shin
- Laboratory of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, KAIST, Daejeon 34141, Korea
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21
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Keoshkerian E, Hunter M, Cameron B, Nguyen N, Sugden P, Bull R, Zekry A, Maher L, Seddiki N, Zaunders J, Kelleher A, Lloyd AR. Hepatitis C-specific effector and regulatory CD4 T-cell responses are associated with the outcomes of primary infection. J Viral Hepat 2016; 23:985-993. [PMID: 27558465 DOI: 10.1111/jvh.12576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2016] [Accepted: 06/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Clearance of primary hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been associated with strong and broadly targeted cellular immune responses. This study aimed to characterize HCV-specific CD4+ effector and regulatory T-cell numbers and cytokine production during primary infection. Antigen-specific CD4+ T-cell responses were investigated in a longitudinal cohort of subjects from pre-infection to postoutcome, including subjects who cleared [n=12] or became chronically infected [n=17]. A cross-sectional cohort with previously cleared, or chronic infection [n=15 for each], was also studied. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were incubated with HCV antigens and surface stained for T-effector (CD4+CD25high CD134+CD39-) and T-regulatory (CD4+CD25high CD134+CD39+) markers, and culture supernatants assayed for cytokine production. Contrary to expectations, the breadth and magnitude of the HCV-specific CD4+ T-cell responses were higher in subjects who became chronically infected. Subjects who cleared the virus had HCV-specific CD4+ T-cell responses dominated by effector T cells and produced higher levels of IFN-γ, in contrast to HCV-specific CD4+ T-cell responses dominated by regulatory T cells and more IL-10 production in those who became chronically infected. Better understanding of the role of antigen-specific CD4+ T-cell responses in primary HCV will further define pathogenesis and help guide development of a preventative vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Keoshkerian
- UNSW Australia, Kirby Institute (Viral Immunology Systems Program, VISP) and School of Medical Sciences (SOMS), Kensington, NSW, Australia
| | - M Hunter
- UNSW Australia, SOMS (Infection and Immunology Research Centre, IIRC), Kensington, NSW, Australia
| | - B Cameron
- UNSW Australia, SOMS (Infection and Immunology Research Centre, IIRC), Kensington, NSW, Australia
| | - N Nguyen
- UNSW Australia, SOMS (Infection and Immunology Research Centre, IIRC), Kensington, NSW, Australia
| | - P Sugden
- UNSW Australia, SOMS (Infection and Immunology Research Centre, IIRC), Kensington, NSW, Australia
| | - R Bull
- UNSW Australia, Kirby Institute (Viral Immunology Systems Program, VISP) and School of Medical Sciences (SOMS), Kensington, NSW, Australia
| | - A Zekry
- UNSW Australia, St George and Sutherland Clinical School, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - L Maher
- UNSW Australia, Kirby Institute (Viral Hepatitis Epidemiology and Prevention Program VHEPP), Kensington, NSW, Australia
| | - N Seddiki
- The Vaccine Research Institute (VRI), INSERM, Créteil, France
| | - J Zaunders
- UNSW Australia, Kirby Institute (Immunovirology and Pathogenesis Program, IVPP), Kensington, NSW, Australia
| | - A Kelleher
- UNSW Australia, Kirby Institute (Immunovirology and Pathogenesis Program, IVPP), Kensington, NSW, Australia
| | - A R Lloyd
- UNSW Australia, Kirby Institute (Viral Immunology Systems Program, VISP) and School of Medical Sciences (SOMS), Kensington, NSW, Australia
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Regulatory T Cell Specificity Directs Tolerance versus Allergy against Aeroantigens in Humans. Cell 2016; 167:1067-1078.e16. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2016.09.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 201] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2016] [Revised: 08/11/2016] [Accepted: 09/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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Rathod SB, Tripathy AS. TGF-β 1 and contact mediated suppression by CD4 +CD25 +CD127 - T regulatory cells of patients with self-limiting hepatitis E. Hum Immunol 2016; 77:1254-1263. [PMID: 27720959 DOI: 10.1016/j.humimm.2016.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2016] [Revised: 09/07/2016] [Accepted: 10/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM Literature on the role of Regulatory T cells (Tregs) in acute viral infections is limited. Having established that the Tregs in self-limiting hepatitis E infection are elevated and functional, this study has focused on characterizing the specificity, phenotypes and identifying the molecules or factors responsible for enhancement of Treg cells and abrogation of Treg-mediated suppression in hepatitis E. METHODS HEV rORF2p specific (a) Treg frequency, subset analysis and expression of surface and intracellular markers on Tregs and CFSE based functional analysis by flow cytometry (b) key cytokines quantification by multiplex (c) suppressive functional assay in the presence of anti-TGF-β1 or anti-IL-10 or both antibodies or Transwell insert or in combination were performed on samples from 58 acute patients (AVH-E), 45 recovered individuals from hepatitis E and 55 controls. RESULTS In AVH-E, the increased frequencies of Tregs and Teff cells were HEV rORF2p specific and Treg cells were of effector memory phenotype. Higher expressions of HEV rORF2p stimulated CTLA-4, GITR, PD1L, CD103, CD39, TLR2 and TGF-β1 molecules on Tregs of AVH-E were observed. Tregs produced TGF-β1 and inhibited the secretion of IFN-γ. Transwell insert and cytokines blocking assays indicated Tregs mediated suppression in AVH-E patients is majorly TGF-β1 mediated and partly cell-cell contact mediated. CONCLUSION Overall, we have identified beneficial involvement of HEV specific, functional Tregs and TGF-β1 as the regulatory molecule responsible for enhancement of Tregs in self-limiting HEV infection. Therefore, use of TGF-β1 as a possible supplement for boosting Treg response in recovery from severe hepatitis E needs evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjay B Rathod
- Hepatitis Group, National Institute of Virology, Pune, India
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Quarleri JF, Oubiña JR. Hepatitis C virus strategies to evade the specific-T cell response: a possible mission favoring its persistence. Ann Hepatol 2016; 15:17-26. [PMID: 26626636 DOI: 10.5604/16652681.1184193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a small, enveloped RNA virus. The number of HCV-infected individuals worldwide is estimated to be approximately 200 million. The vast majority of HCV infections persist, with up to 80% of all cases leading to chronic hepatitis associated with liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The interaction between HCV and the host have a pivotal role in viral fitness, persistence, pathogenicity, and disease progression. The control of HCV infection requires both effective innate and adaptive immune responses. The HCV clearance during acute infection is associated with an early induction of the innate and a delayed initiation of the adaptive immune responses. However, in the vast majority of acute HCV infections, these responses are overcome and the virus persistence almost inexorably occurs. Recently, several host- and virus-related mechanisms responsible for the failure of both the innate and the adaptive immune responses have been recognized. Among the latter, the wide range of escape mutations to evade the specific-T-and B-cell responses as well as the T cell anergy and the CD8+ T cell exhaustion together with the interference with its function after prolonged virus exposure hold a pivotal role. Other HCV strategies include the modification or manipulation of molecules playing key roles in the induction of the interferon response and its induced effector proteins. In this review, we attempt to gain insights on the main T cell immune evasion strategies used by the virus in order to favor its persistence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Fabián Quarleri
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y Sida (INBIRS), Universidad de Buenos Aires-CONICET, Argentina
| | - José Raúl Oubiña
- Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPAM), Universidad de Buenos Aires-CONICET, Argentina
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25
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Hoeppli RE, MacDonald KG, Levings MK, Cook L. How antigen specificity directs regulatory T-cell function: self, foreign and engineered specificity. HLA 2016; 88:3-13. [PMID: 27256587 DOI: 10.1111/tan.12822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2016] [Accepted: 04/29/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are a suppressive subset of T cells that have important roles in maintaining self-tolerance and preventing immunopathology. The T-cell receptor (TCR) and its antigen specificity play a dominant role in the differentiation of cells to a Treg fate, either in the thymus or in the periphery. This review focuses on the effects of the TCR and its antigen specificity on Treg biology. The role of Tregs with specificity for self-antigen has primarily been studied in the context of autoimmune disease, although recent studies have focused on their role in steady-state conditions. The role of Tregs that are specific for pathogens, dietary antigens and allergens is much less studied, although recent data suggest a significant and previously underappreciated role for Tregs during memory responses to a wide range of foreign antigens. The development of TCR- or chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-transduced T cells means we are now able to engineer Tregs with disease-relevant antigen specificities, paving the way for ensuring specificity with Treg-based therapies. Understanding the role that antigens play in driving the generation and function of Tregs is critical for defining the pathophysiology of many immune-mediated diseases, and developing new therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- R E Hoeppli
- Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia and Child & Family Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada
| | - K G MacDonald
- Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia and Child & Family Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada
| | - M K Levings
- Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia and Child & Family Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada
| | - L Cook
- Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia and Child & Family Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada
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26
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Park JJ, Wong DK, Wahed AS, Lee WM, Feld JJ, Terrault N, Khalili M, Sterling RK, Kowdley KV, Bzowej N, Lau DT, Kim WR, Smith C, Carithers RL, Torrey KW, Keith JW, Levine DL, Traum D, Ho S, Valiga ME, Johnson GS, Doo E, Lok ASF, Chang KM. Hepatitis B Virus--Specific and Global T-Cell Dysfunction in Chronic Hepatitis B. Gastroenterology 2016; 150:684-695.e5. [PMID: 26684441 PMCID: PMC4766024 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2015.11.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 162] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2015] [Revised: 09/25/2015] [Accepted: 11/10/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS T cells play a critical role in viral infection. We examined whether T-cell effector and regulatory responses can define clinical stages of chronic hepatitis B (CHB). METHODS We enrolled 200 adults with CHB who participated in the National Institutes of Health-supported Hepatitis B Research Network from 2011 through 2013 and 20 uninfected individuals (controls). Peripheral blood lymphocytes from these subjects were analyzed for T-cell responses (proliferation and production of interferon gamma and interleukin 10) to overlapping hepatitis B virus (HBV) peptides (preS, S, preC, core, and reverse transcriptase), influenza matrix peptides, and lipopolysaccharide. T-cell expression of regulatory markers FOXP3, programmed death-1, and cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 was examined by flow cytometry. Immune measures were compared with clinical parameters, including physician-defined immune-active, immune-tolerant, or inactive CHB phenotypes, in a blinded fashion. RESULTS Compared with controls, patients with CHB had weak T-cell proliferative, interferon gamma, and interleukin 10 responses to HBV, with increased frequency of circulating FOXP3(+)CD127(-) regulatory T cells and CD4(+) T-cell expression of programmed death-1 and cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4. T-cell measures did not clearly distinguish between clinical CHB phenotypes, although the HBV core-specific T-cell response was weaker in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)(+) than HBeAg(-) patients (percent responders: 3% vs 23%; P = .00008). Although in vitro blockade of programmed death-1 or cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 increased T-cell responses to HBV, the effect was weaker in HBeAg(+) than HBeAg(-) patients. Furthermore, T-cell responses to influenza and lipopolysaccharide were weaker in CHB patients than controls. CONCLUSIONS HBV persists with virus-specific and global T-cell dysfunction mediated by multiple regulatory mechanisms, including circulating HBeAg, but without distinct T-cell-based immune signatures for clinical phenotypes. These findings suggest additional T-cell-independent or regulatory mechanisms of CHB pathogenesis that warrant further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jang-June Park
- Philadelphia Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | | | - Abdus S Wahed
- University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | | | | | - Norah Terrault
- University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Mandana Khalili
- University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | | | | | - Natalie Bzowej
- California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco, California
| | - Daryl T Lau
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | | | | | - Keith W Torrey
- Philadelphia Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - James W Keith
- Philadelphia Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Danielle L Levine
- Philadelphia Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Daniel Traum
- Philadelphia Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Suzanne Ho
- Philadelphia Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Mary E Valiga
- Philadelphia Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Geoffrey S Johnson
- University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Edward Doo
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | | | - Kyong-Mi Chang
- Philadelphia Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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Barjon C, Dahlqvist G, Calmus Y, Conti F. Role of regulatory T-cells during hepatitis C infection: From the acute phase to post-transplantation recurrence. Dig Liver Dis 2015. [PMID: 26216068 DOI: 10.1016/j.dld.2015.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis C viral infection persists and becomes chronic in a majority of affected individuals. Numerous factors have been described to explain how the virus manages to escape the host immune system. One important escape mechanism is the increase in regulatory T cells induced by the virus. In this review, we will focus on the status of regulatory T cells throughout the natural history of hepatitis C infection and after liver transplantation. The molecular mechanisms involved in increasing the number of regulatory T cells are also discussed, as are data regarding the impact of regulatory T-cells on hepatic fibrosis in the context of hepatitis C viral infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clément Barjon
- Sorbonne University, UPMC Univ. Paris 6, Inserm UMRS 938, CDR Saint-Antoine, Paris, France.
| | - Géraldine Dahlqvist
- Sorbonne University, UPMC Univ. Paris 6, Inserm UMRS 938, CDR Saint-Antoine, Paris, France
| | - Yvon Calmus
- Sorbonne University, UPMC Univ. Paris 6, Inserm UMRS 938, CDR Saint-Antoine, Paris, France; Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, AP-HP, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Filomena Conti
- Sorbonne University, UPMC Univ. Paris 6, Inserm UMRS 938, CDR Saint-Antoine, Paris, France; Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, AP-HP, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France
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New technologies for monitoring human antigen-specific T cells and regulatory T cells by flow-cytometry. Curr Opin Pharmacol 2015; 23:17-24. [DOI: 10.1016/j.coph.2015.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2015] [Accepted: 04/24/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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29
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Abdel-Hady KM, Gutierrez AH, Terry F, Desrosiers J, De Groot AS, Azzazy HME. Identification and retrospective validation of T-cell epitopes in the hepatitis C virus genotype 4 proteome: an accelerated approach toward epitope-driven vaccine development. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2015; 10:2366-77. [PMID: 25424944 DOI: 10.4161/hv.29177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
With over 150 million people chronically infected worldwide and millions more infected annually, hepatitis C continues to pose a burden on the global healthcare system. The standard therapy of hepatitis C remains expensive, with severe associated side effects and inconsistent cure rates. Vaccine development against the hepatitis C virus has been hampered by practical and biological challenges posed by viral evasion mechanisms. Despite these challenges, HCV vaccine research has presented a number of candidate vaccines that progressed to phase II trials. However, those efforts focused mainly on HCV genotypes 1 and 2 as vaccine targets and barely enough attention was given to genotype 4, the variant most prevalent in the Middle East and central Africa. We describe herein the in silico identification of highly conserved and immunogenic T-cell epitopes from the HCV genotype 4 proteome, using the iVAX immunoinformatics toolkit, as targets for an epitope-driven vaccine. We also describe a fast and inexpensive approach for results validation using the empirical data on the Immune Epitope Database (IEDB) as a reference. Our analysis identified 90 HLA class I epitopes of which 20 were found to be novel and 19 more had their binding predictions retrospectively validated; empirical data for the remaining 51 epitopes was insufficient to validate their binding predictions. Our analysis also identified 14 HLA class II epitopes, of which 8 had most of their binding predictions validated. Further investigation is required regarding the efficacy of the identified epitopes as vaccine targets in populations where HCV genotype 4 is most prevalent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karim M Abdel-Hady
- a Department of Chemistry; School of Sciences and Engineering; The American University in Cairo; New Cairo, Egypt
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30
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Immunization with Recombinant Adenoviral Vectors Expressing HCV Core or F Proteins Leads to T Cells with Reduced Effector Molecules Granzyme B and IFN-γ: A Potential New Strategy for Immune Evasion in HCV Infection. Viral Immunol 2015; 28:309-24. [DOI: 10.1089/vim.2015.0009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
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31
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Regulatory T Cells in Autoimmune and Viral Chronic Hepatitis. J Immunol Res 2015; 2015:479703. [PMID: 26106627 PMCID: PMC4464004 DOI: 10.1155/2015/479703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2015] [Accepted: 05/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
In both autoimmune liver disease and chronic viral hepatitis, the injury results from an immune-mediated cytotoxic T cell response to liver cells. As such, it is not surprising that CD4(+) regulatory T cells, a key regulatory population of T cells able to curb immune responses, could be involved in both autoimmune hepatitis and chronic viral hepatitis. The liver can induce the conversion of naïve CD4(+) T cells to CD4(+) regulatory T cells and induce tolerance to locally expressed antigens. This tolerance mechanism is carefully regulated in physiological conditions but any imbalance could be pathological. An overly tolerant immune response can lead to chronic infections while an overreactive and unbridled immune response can lead to autoimmune hepatitis. With the recent advent of monoclonal antibodies able to target regulatory T cells (daclizumab) and improve immune responses and several ongoing clinical trials analysing the impact of regulatory T cell infusion on autoimmune liver disease or liver transplant tolerance, modulation of immunological tolerance through CD4(+) regulatory T cells could be a key element of future immunotherapies for several liver diseases allowing restoring the balance between proper immune responses and tolerance. .
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Chu PS, Ebinuma H, Nakamoto N, Sugiyama K, Usui S, Wakayama Y, Taniki N, Yamaguchi A, Shiba S, Yamagishi Y, Wakita T, Hibi T, Saito H, Kanai T. Genotype-Associated Differential NKG2D Expression on CD56+CD3+ Lymphocytes Predicts Response to Pegylated-Interferon/Ribavirin Therapy in Chronic Hepatitis C. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0125664. [PMID: 25965701 PMCID: PMC4428701 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0125664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2014] [Accepted: 03/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 infections are significantly more difficult to eradicate with PEG-IFN/ribavirin therapy, compared to HCV genotype 2. The aim of this work is to investigate the difference of immunological impairments underlying this phenomenon. Pre-treatment NKG2D expression on peripheral CD56+CD3+ lymphocytes and CD56+CD3- NK cells from cases of chronic hepatitis C were analyzed and assessed by treatment effect. Two strains of HCV were used to co-incubate with immune cells in vitro. NKG2D expression on peripheral CD56+CD3+ lymphocytes, but not NK cells, was significantly impaired in genotype 1 infection, compared to genotype 2. When peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy donors were co-incubated with TNS2J1, a genotype 1b/2a chimera strain, or with JFH1, a genotype 2a strain, genotype-specific decrease of NKG2D on CD56+CD3+ lymphocytes, but not NK cells, was observed. Pre-treatment NKG2D expression on peripheral CD56+CD3+ lymphocytes significantly correlated with reduction in serum HCV RNA levels from week 0 to week 4, and predicted treatment response. Ex vivo stimulation of peripheral CD56+CD3+ lymphocytes showed NKG2D expression-correlated IFN-γ production. In conclusion, Decreased NKG2D expression on CD56+CD3+ lymphocytes in chronic HCV genotype 1 infection predicts inferior treatment response to PEG-IFN/ribavirin therapy compared to genotype 2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Po-sung Chu
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Division of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hirotoshi Ebinuma
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Division of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Nobuhiro Nakamoto
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Division of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuo Sugiyama
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Division of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shingo Usui
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Division of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuko Wakayama
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Division of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Nobuhito Taniki
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Division of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akihiro Yamaguchi
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Division of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shunsuke Shiba
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Division of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshiyuki Yamagishi
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Division of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takaji Wakita
- Department of Virology II, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Toshifumi Hibi
- Center for Advanced IBD Research and Treatment, Kitasato Institute Hospital, Kitasato University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hidetsugu Saito
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Division of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
- Division of Pharmacotherapeutics, School of Pharmacy, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takanori Kanai
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Division of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
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Hashempour T, Bamdad T, Bergamini A, Lavergne JP, Haj-Sheykholeslami A, Brakier-Gingras L, Ajorloo M, Merat S. F protein increases CD4+CD25+ T cell population in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Pathog Dis 2015; 73:ftv022. [PMID: 25862675 DOI: 10.1093/femspd/ftv022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/17/2015] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
HCV is a global health problem with an estimated 230 million chronically infected people worldwide. It has been reported that a 17-kd protein translated from core-encoding genomic region can contribute to immune-mediated mechanisms associated with the development of the chronic disease. Also, Treg cells can be contributed to an inadequate response against the viruses, leading to chronic infection. Here we evaluated the ability of protein F to modulate the frequency of CD4+CD25+FoxP3+T and IL-10+T cells in patients with chronic HCV infection. F gene was amplified and cloned in the expression vector. The protein was purified and used for stimulation of PBMCs in the HCV chronic patients and the control groups. The frequency of CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ T cell-like populations and IL-10-producing CD4+CD25+ T cells was assessed in the HCV-infected patients and in the healthy controls by flow cytometry, which showed an increase of both CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ T cell-like population and IL-10-producing CD4+CD25+ T cells in the HCV-infected patients positive for anti-F antibody. Our results suggest the potential involvement of F and core antigens in increasing the frequency of CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ T cell-like population and IL-10-producing CD4+CD25+ T cells which may be associated with HCV-persistent infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tayebeh Hashempour
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, 14115-331 Tehran, Iran Digestive Disease Research Center, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 14117 Tehran, Iran
| | - Taravat Bamdad
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, 14115-331 Tehran, Iran
| | - Alberto Bergamini
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1,00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Jean Pierre Lavergne
- Laboratoire de Bioinformatique et RMN structurales, Institut de Biologie et chimie des protéines, UMR 5086 CNRS, Université Claude Bernard Lyon I
| | - Arghavan Haj-Sheykholeslami
- Digestive Disease Research Center, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 14117 Tehran, Iran
| | - Léa Brakier-Gingras
- Département de Biochimie et Médecine Moléculaire, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Pavillon Roger-Gaudry, bureau E-519, C.P. 6128, Succ. Centre-ville, Montréal, Québec
| | - Mehdi Ajorloo
- Digestive Disease Research Center, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 14117 Tehran, Iran
| | - Shahin Merat
- Digestive Disease Research Center, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 14117 Tehran, Iran
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Gronert Álvarez A, Fytili P, Suneetha PV, Kraft ARM, Brauner C, Schlue J, Krech T, Lehner F, Meyer‐Heithuis C, Jaeckel E, Klempnauer J, Manns MP, Cornberg M, Wedemeyer H. Comprehensive phenotyping of regulatory T cells after liver transplantation. Liver Transpl 2015; 21:381-95. [PMID: 25451888 PMCID: PMC6718011 DOI: 10.1002/lt.24050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2014] [Revised: 11/07/2014] [Accepted: 11/19/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play an important role in controlling alloreactivity after solid organ transplantation, but they may also impair antiviral immunity. We hypothesized that the Treg frequency and the Treg phenotype are altered in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected recipients of liver transplantation (LT) with possible prognostic implications. Tregs from 141 individuals, including healthy individuals, LT recipients with or without persistent HCV infections, and nontransplant patients with chronic HCV, were studied. A comprehensive phenotypic analysis was performed with multicolor flow cytometry, which included standard Treg markers [CD4(+), CD25(hi), CD127(-), and FoxP3(+) in addition to HLA DR, CCR7, CD45RA, CD62L, CD49d, CD39, ICOS and LAP-TGFβ stainings. Healthy individuals and LT patients displayed similar Treg frequencies and largely comparable Treg phenotypes, which were stable over time after transplantation. In contrast, Tregs with a CD45RA(-) CCR7(-) effector phenotype were enriched in LT recipients with chronic HCV versus HCV-negative transplant patients. HCV infection, rather than LT, altered the expression of functional markers on Tregs. A principal component analysis revealed distinct Treg phenotypes in HCV-infected LT recipients with rejection and patients with recurrent graft HCV. In conclusion, Treg phenotypes are altered in HCV-infected LT patients. An investigation of Tregs may possibly help to distinguish recurrent HCV from graft rejection. Further functional studies are needed to define the role of Tregs in determining the balance between antiviral and allogenic immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Gronert Álvarez
- Department of GastroenterologyHepatologyand EndocrinologyHannover Medical SchoolHanoverGermany
| | - Paraskevi Fytili
- Department of GastroenterologyHepatologyand EndocrinologyHannover Medical SchoolHanoverGermany
| | - Pothakamuri V. Suneetha
- Department of GastroenterologyHepatologyand EndocrinologyHannover Medical SchoolHanoverGermany
| | - Anke R. M. Kraft
- Department of GastroenterologyHepatologyand EndocrinologyHannover Medical SchoolHanoverGermany
| | - Christin Brauner
- Department of GastroenterologyHepatologyand EndocrinologyHannover Medical SchoolHanoverGermany
| | - Jerome Schlue
- Institute of Pathology, Hannover Medical SchoolHanoverGermany
| | - Till Krech
- Institute of Pathology, Hannover Medical SchoolHanoverGermany,Department of PathologyUniversity Medical Center Hamburg‐EppendorfHamburgGermany
| | - Frank Lehner
- Department of GeneralAbdominaland Transplant SurgeryHannover Medical SchoolHanoverGermany
| | | | - Elmar Jaeckel
- Department of GastroenterologyHepatologyand EndocrinologyHannover Medical SchoolHanoverGermany
| | - Juergen Klempnauer
- Department of GeneralAbdominaland Transplant SurgeryHannover Medical SchoolHanoverGermany
| | - Michael P. Manns
- Department of GastroenterologyHepatologyand EndocrinologyHannover Medical SchoolHanoverGermany
| | - Markus Cornberg
- Department of GastroenterologyHepatologyand EndocrinologyHannover Medical SchoolHanoverGermany
| | - Heiner Wedemeyer
- Department of GastroenterologyHepatologyand EndocrinologyHannover Medical SchoolHanoverGermany
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Chaudhary B, Elkord E. Downregulation of immunosuppressive environment in patients with chronic HBV hepatitis on maintained remission. Front Immunol 2015; 6:52. [PMID: 25717327 PMCID: PMC4324156 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2015.00052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2014] [Accepted: 01/27/2015] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Belal Chaudhary
- United Arab Emirates University , Al Ain , United Arab Emirates ; University of Salford , Manchester , UK ; University of Cambridge , Cambridge , UK
| | - Eyad Elkord
- United Arab Emirates University , Al Ain , United Arab Emirates ; University of Salford , Manchester , UK ; University of Manchester , Manchester , UK
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Losikoff PT, Mishra S, Terry F, Gutierrez A, Ardito MT, Fast L, Nevola M, Martin WD, Bailey-Kellogg C, De Groot AS, Gregory SH. HCV epitope, homologous to multiple human protein sequences, induces a regulatory T cell response in infected patients. J Hepatol 2015; 62:48-55. [PMID: 25157982 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2014.08.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2013] [Revised: 07/14/2014] [Accepted: 08/17/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Spontaneous resolution of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection depends upon a broad T cell response to multiple viral epitopes. However, most patients fail to clear infections spontaneously and develop chronic disease. The elevated number and function of CD3(+)CD4(+)CD25(+)FoxP3(+) regulatory T cells (T(reg)) in HCV-infected patients suggest a role of Treg cells in impaired viral clearance. The factors contributing to increased Treg cell activity in chronic hepatitis C cases remain to be delineated. METHODS Immunoinformatics tools were used to predict promiscuous, highly-conserved HLA-DRB1-restricted immunogenic consensus sequences (ICS), each composed of multiple T cell epitopes. These sequences were synthesized and added to cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), derived from patients who resolved HCV infection spontaneously, patients with persistent infection, and non-infected individuals. The cells were collected and following 5days incubation, quantified and characterized by flow cytometry. RESULTS One immunogenic consensus sequence (ICS), HCV_G1_p7_794, induced a marked increase in Treg cells in PBMC cultures derived from infected patients, but not in patients who spontaneously cleared HCV or in non-infected individuals. An analogous human peptide (p7_794), on the other hand, induced a significant increase in Treg cells among PBMCs derived from both HCV-infected and non-infected individuals. JanusMatrix analyses determined that HCV_G1_p7_794 is comprised of Treg cell epitopes that exhibit extensive cross-reactivity with the human proteome. CONCLUSIONS A virus-encoded peptide (HCV_G1_p7_794) with extensive human homology activates cross-reactive CD3(+)CD4(+)CD25(+)FoxP3(+) natural Treg cells, which potentially contributes to immunosuppression and to the development of chronic hepatitis C.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phyllis T Losikoff
- Department of Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital and The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Sasmita Mishra
- Department of Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital and The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | | | - Andres Gutierrez
- Institute for Immunology and Informatics, University of Rhode Island, Providence, RI, USA
| | | | - Loren Fast
- Department of Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital and The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA; Institute for Immunology and Informatics, University of Rhode Island, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Martha Nevola
- Department of Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital and The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | | | | | - Anne S De Groot
- EpiVax, Inc., Providence, RI, USA; Institute for Immunology and Informatics, University of Rhode Island, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Stephen H Gregory
- Department of Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital and The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
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Zhai N, Chi X, Li T, Song H, Li H, Jin X, Crispe IN, Su L, Niu J, Tu Z. Hepatitis C virus core protein triggers expansion and activation of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells in chronic hepatitis C patients. Cell Mol Immunol 2014; 12:743-9. [PMID: 25531392 DOI: 10.1038/cmi.2014.119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2014] [Revised: 11/06/2014] [Accepted: 11/07/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
CD4(+)CD25(+)FoxP3(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs) are increased in patients with chronic hepatitis C, which may contribute to the sustained suppression of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-specific T-cell responses and viral persistence in HCV-infected individuals. We postulated that HCV core protein (HCVc) directly contributes to the expansion of Tregs in HCV-infected patients, and we provide evidence to support this hypothesis in the report. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and sera were collected from 87 treatment-naïve chronic HCV-infected patients, CD4(+)CD25(+) Tregs were measured by flow cytometry, and HCV RNA and HCVc levels were detected using qPCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. CD4(+), CD8(+), CD4(+)CD25(+) and CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells were purified from healthy donors and cultured with recombinant HCVc and Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands. Flow cytometry was used to analyze cell proliferation, and ELISA was performed to measure cytokine production. In the 87 chronic HCV-infected patients, HCVc showed a significant correlation with HCV RNA and CD4(+)CD25(+) Tregs. Mechanistic studies showed that HCVc, together with anti-CD3 antibody, augmented CD4(+)CD25(+) Treg proliferation, but inhibited CD4(+)CD25(-) T-cell proliferation and IFN-γ production, in a dose-dependent and Treg-dependent manner. Moreover, unlike the TLR3 ligand (poly I:C) and the TLR4 ligand (lipopolysaccharide, LPS), the TLR2 ligand (lipoteichoic acid, LTA) and HCVc both inhibited TCR-induced CD4(+) T-cell proliferation and IFN-γ secretion in a Treg-dependent manner. These data indicate that HCVc, like other TLR2 ligands, triggers CD4(+)CD25(+) Treg activation and expansion to inhibit host immune responses, which may play a critical role in viral persistence in HCV-infected patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naicui Zhai
- Institute of Translational Medicine, The First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xiumei Chi
- Department of Hepatology, The First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Tianyang Li
- Institute of Translational Medicine, The First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Hongxiao Song
- Institute of Translational Medicine, The First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Haijun Li
- Institute of Translational Medicine, The First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xia Jin
- Institute Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | | | - Lishan Su
- Institute of Translational Medicine, The First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China.,Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Junqi Niu
- Department of Hepatology, The First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Zhengkun Tu
- Institute of Translational Medicine, The First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China.,Department of Hepatology, The First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China
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Asghar K, Ashiq MT, Zulfiqar B, Mahroo A, Nasir K, Murad S. Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase expression and activity in patients with hepatitis C virus-induced liver cirrhosis. Exp Ther Med 2014; 9:901-904. [PMID: 25667650 PMCID: PMC4316896 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2014.2146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2014] [Accepted: 10/21/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) is an immunoregulatory enzyme. It plays a key role in various malignancies, infection and autoimmune diseases. IDO induces immunosuppression through the depletion of tryptophan and its downstream metabolites. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has infected more than 12 million individuals in Pakistan. The aim of the present study was to assess the expression and activity of IDO in HCV-infected patients. The functional enzymatic activity of IDO was measured by colorimetric assay. Serum samples from 100 HCV-infected patients were taken to examine IDO activity and samples from 100 healthy volunteers were used as controls. Liver sections from patients with HCV (n=35) and healthy controls (n=5) were used for immunohistochemical studies. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that IDO was overexpressed in 28 of 35 (80%) cirrhotic liver samples, whereas 5 of 35 (14.2%) cases presented moderate and 2 of 35 (5.7%) cases presented mild expression of IDO. The enzymatic activity of IDO was significantly higher in the serum samples of HCV-infected patients as compared with those in the control. These data indicate that the expression of IDO correlated with the pathogenesis of disease. In summary, it is suggested that the high expression of IDO in the progressively cirrhotic livers of HCV-infected patients might contribute to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. IDO may characterize a novel therapeutic target against HCV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kashif Asghar
- Molecular Immunology Research Group, Atta-ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences (ASAB), National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST), Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
| | - M Taimour Ashiq
- Molecular Immunology Research Group, Atta-ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences (ASAB), National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST), Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
| | - Bilal Zulfiqar
- Molecular Immunology Research Group, Atta-ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences (ASAB), National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST), Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
| | - Amnah Mahroo
- Molecular Immunology Research Group, Atta-ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences (ASAB), National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST), Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
| | - Kaenat Nasir
- Molecular Immunology Research Group, Atta-ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences (ASAB), National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST), Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
| | - Sheeba Murad
- Molecular Immunology Research Group, Atta-ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences (ASAB), National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST), Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
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Moise L, Terry F, Gutierrez AH, Tassone R, Losikoff P, Gregory SH, Bailey-Kellogg C, Martin WD, De Groot AS. Smarter vaccine design will circumvent regulatory T cell-mediated evasion in chronic HIV and HCV infection. Front Microbiol 2014; 5:502. [PMID: 25339942 PMCID: PMC4186478 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2014.00502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2014] [Accepted: 09/08/2014] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite years of research, vaccines against HIV and HCV are not yet available, due largely to effective viral immunoevasive mechanisms. A novel escape mechanism observed in viruses that cause chronic infection is suppression of viral-specific effector CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells by stimulating regulatory T cells (Tregs) educated on host sequences during tolerance induction. Viral class II MHC epitopes that share a T cell receptor (TCR)-face with host epitopes may activate Tregs capable of suppressing protective responses. We designed an immunoinformatic algorithm, JanusMatrix, to identify such epitopes and discovered that among human-host viruses, chronic viruses appear more human-like than viruses that cause acute infection. Furthermore, an HCV epitope that activates Tregs in chronically infected patients, but not clearers, shares a TCR-face with numerous human sequences. To boost weak CD4(+) T cell responses associated with persistent infection, vaccines for HIV and HCV must circumvent potential Treg activation that can handicap efficacy. Epitope-driven approaches to vaccine design that involve careful consideration of the T cell subsets primed during immunization will advance HIV and HCV vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonard Moise
- EpiVax, Inc., Providence, RI, USA
- Institute for Immunology and Informatics, University of Rhode Island, Providence, RI, USA
| | | | - Andres H. Gutierrez
- Institute for Immunology and Informatics, University of Rhode Island, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Ryan Tassone
- Institute for Immunology and Informatics, University of Rhode Island, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Phyllis Losikoff
- Department of Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital and the Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | | | | | | | - Anne S. De Groot
- EpiVax, Inc., Providence, RI, USA
- Institute for Immunology and Informatics, University of Rhode Island, Providence, RI, USA
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40
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Mishra S, Lavelle BJ, Desrosiers J, Ardito MT, Terry F, Martin WD, De Groot AS, Gregory SH. Dendritic cell-mediated, DNA-based vaccination against hepatitis C induces the multi-epitope-specific response of humanized, HLA transgenic mice. PLoS One 2014; 9:e104606. [PMID: 25111185 PMCID: PMC4128787 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0104606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2014] [Accepted: 06/29/2014] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the etiologic agent of chronic liver disease, hepatitis C. Spontaneous resolution of viral infection is associated with vigorous HLA class I- and class II-restricted T cell responses to multiple viral epitopes. Unfortunately, only 20% of patients clear infection spontaneously, most develop chronic disease and require therapy. The response to chemotherapy varies, however; therapeutic vaccination offers an additional treatment strategy. To date, therapeutic vaccines have demonstrated only limited success. Vector-mediated vaccination with multi-epitope-expressing DNA constructs alone or in combination with chemotherapy offers an additional treatment approach. Gene sequences encoding validated HLA-A2- and HLA-DRB1-restricted epitopes were synthesized and cloned into an expression vector. Dendritic cells (DCs) derived from humanized, HLA-A2/DRB1 transgenic (donor) mice were transfected with these multi-epitope-expressing DNA constructs. Recipient HLA-A2/DRB1 mice were vaccinated s.c. with transfected DCs; control mice received non-transfected DCs. Peptide-specific IFN-γ production by splenic T cells obtained at 5 weeks post-immunization was quantified by ELISpot assay; additionally, the production of IL-4, IL-10 and TNF-α were quantified by cytokine bead array. Splenocytes derived from vaccinated HLA-A2/DRB1 transgenic mice exhibited peptide-specific cytokine production to the vast majority of the vaccine-encoded HLA class I- and class II-restricted T cell epitopes. A multi-epitope-based HCV vaccine that targets DCs offers an effective approach to inducing a broad immune response and viral clearance in chronic, HCV-infected patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sasmita Mishra
- Department of Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital and the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Bianca J. Lavelle
- Department of Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital and the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Joe Desrosiers
- Institute for Immunology and Informatics, University of Rhode Island, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Matt T. Ardito
- EpiVax, Inc., Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Frances Terry
- EpiVax, Inc., Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | | | - Anne S. De Groot
- Institute for Immunology and Informatics, University of Rhode Island, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
- EpiVax, Inc., Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Stephen H. Gregory
- Department of Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital and the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
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Jost NH, Abel S, Hutzler M, Sparwasser T, Zimmermann A, Roers A, Müller W, Klopfleisch R, Hengel H, Westendorf AM, Buer J, Hansen W. Regulatory T cells and T‐cell‐derived IL‐10 interfere with effective anti‐cytomegalovirus immune response. Immunol Cell Biol 2014; 92:860-71. [DOI: 10.1038/icb.2014.62] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2014] [Revised: 06/25/2014] [Accepted: 06/26/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Nils H Jost
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg‐EssenEssenGermany
| | - Simone Abel
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg‐EssenEssenGermany
| | - Marina Hutzler
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg‐EssenEssenGermany
| | - Tim Sparwasser
- Institute of Infection Immunology, TWINCOREHannoverGermany
| | | | - Axel Roers
- Institute for Immunology, TU DresdenDresdenGermany
| | - Werner Müller
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of ManchesterManchesterUK
| | | | - Hartmut Hengel
- Institute for Virology, University Medical Center Freiburg, Albert‐Ludwigs UniversityFreiburgGermany
| | - Astrid M Westendorf
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg‐EssenEssenGermany
| | - Jan Buer
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg‐EssenEssenGermany
| | - Wiebke Hansen
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg‐EssenEssenGermany
- Institute for Virology, University Medical Center Freiburg, Albert‐Ludwigs UniversityFreiburgGermany
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Cho H, Kikuchi M, Li Y, Nakamoto N, Amorosa VK, Valiga ME, Chang KM. Induction of Multiple Immune Regulatory Pathways with Differential Impact in HCV/HIV Coinfection. Front Immunol 2014; 5:265. [PMID: 25071758 PMCID: PMC4086204 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2014.00265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2014] [Accepted: 05/23/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Persistent viral infections including HCV, HBV, and HIV are associated with increased immune regulatory pathways including the extrinsic FoxP3+CD4+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) and intrinsic inhibitory pathways such as programed death-1 (PD-1) and cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) with potentially reversible suppression of antiviral effector T cells (1–12). Immunological consequences of viral coinfections relative to these immune regulatory pathways and their interplay are not well-defined. In this study, we examined the frequency, phenotype, and effector function of circulating T cell subsets in patients with chronic HCV and/or HIV infection, hypothesizing that HCV/HIV coinfection will result in greater immune dysregulation with pathogenetic consequences (13, 14). We show that multiple T cell inhibitory pathways are induced in HCV/HIV coinfection including FoxP3+ Tregs, PD-1, and CTLA-4 in inverse association with overall CD4 T cell frequency but not with liver function or HCV RNA titers. The inverse association between CD4 T cell frequency and their FoxP3, PD-1, or CTLA-4 expression remained significant in all subjects combined regardless of HCV and/or HIV infection, suggesting a global homeostatic mechanism to maintain immune regulation relative to CD4 T cell frequency. PD-1 blockade rescued T cell responses to HIV but not HCV without significant impact by CTLA-4 blockade in vitro. Collectively, these findings highlight complex immune interactions in viral coinfections and differential regulatory pathways influencing virus-specific T cells that are relevant in immunotherapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyosun Cho
- Philadelphia VAMC , Philadelphia, PA , USA ; Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine , Philadelphia, PA , USA ; Duksung Women's University , Seoul , South Korea
| | - Masahiro Kikuchi
- Philadelphia VAMC , Philadelphia, PA , USA ; Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine , Philadelphia, PA , USA
| | - Yun Li
- Philadelphia VAMC , Philadelphia, PA , USA ; Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine , Philadelphia, PA , USA
| | - Nobuhiro Nakamoto
- Philadelphia VAMC , Philadelphia, PA , USA ; Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine , Philadelphia, PA , USA
| | - Valerianna K Amorosa
- Philadelphia VAMC , Philadelphia, PA , USA ; Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine , Philadelphia, PA , USA
| | - Mary E Valiga
- Philadelphia VAMC , Philadelphia, PA , USA ; Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine , Philadelphia, PA , USA
| | - Kyong-Mi Chang
- Philadelphia VAMC , Philadelphia, PA , USA ; Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine , Philadelphia, PA , USA
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Abdel-Hakeem MS, Shoukry NH. Protective immunity against hepatitis C: many shades of gray. Front Immunol 2014; 5:274. [PMID: 24982656 PMCID: PMC4058636 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2014.00274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2014] [Accepted: 05/27/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The majority of individuals who become acutely infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) develop chronic infection and suffer from progressive liver damage while approximately 25% are able to eliminate the virus spontaneously. Despite the recent introduction of new direct-acting antivirals, there is still no vaccine for HCV. As a result, new infections and reinfections will remain a problem in developing countries and among high risk populations like injection drug users who have limited access to treatment and who continue to be exposed to the virus. The outcome of acute HCV is determined by the interplay between the host genetics, the virus, and the virus-specific immune response. Studies in humans and chimpanzees have demonstrated the essential role of HCV-specific CD4 and CD8 T cell responses in protection against viral persistence. Recent data suggest that antibody responses play a more important role than what was previously thought. Individuals who spontaneously resolve acute HCV infection develop long-lived memory T cells and are less likely to become persistently infected upon reexposure. New studies examining high risk cohorts are identifying correlates of protection during real life exposures and reinfections. In this review, we discuss correlates of protective immunity during acute HCV and upon reexposure. We draw parallels between HCV and the current knowledge about protective memory in other models of chronic viral infections. Finally, we discuss some of the yet unresolved questions about key correlates of protection and their relevance for vaccine development against HCV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed S Abdel-Hakeem
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM) , Montréal, QC , Canada ; Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal , Montréal, QC , Canada ; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University , Cairo , Egypt
| | - Naglaa H Shoukry
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM) , Montréal, QC , Canada ; Département de Médecine, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal , Montréal, QC , Canada
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Frequency of regulatory T-cell and hepatitis C viral antigen-specific immune response in recurrent hepatitis C after liver transplantation. Transpl Immunol 2014; 31:33-41. [PMID: 24907425 DOI: 10.1016/j.trim.2014.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2014] [Revised: 05/26/2014] [Accepted: 05/26/2014] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Regulatory T (Treg) and type 1 regulatory T (Tr1) cells facilitate hepatitis C virus (HCV) recurrence after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). However, their frequencies and effects on HCV-specific immune responses have not been well investigated. METHODS We determined Treg and Tr1 frequencies in OLT patients with hepatitis C and assessed their associations with HCV-specific T cell responses. These patients comprised the following groups: an early post-transplantation group (n=14); an OLT-chronic active hepatitis C group (n=14) with active hepatitis C (alanine aminotransferase of>upper limit of normal/positive for HCV-RNA); an OLT-persistently normal alanine aminotransferase group (n=12) without active hepatitis C (not interferon/positive for HCV-RNA); and an OLT-sustained viral response group (n=6) with sustained viral responses using interferon treatment (negative for HCV-RNA). The frequencies of HCV-specific CD4+ T cells that secreted interferon-γ were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot assay (except for the OLT early group). RESULTS Treg and Tr1 frequencies were low during the early post-transplantation period. OLT patients with sustained viral responses had lower Treg frequencies than those with chronic hepatitis C, whereas Tr1 frequencies were significantly reduced in OLT patients with persistently normal alanine aminotransferase levels compared to those with chronic hepatitis C (p<0.05). Treg frequencies positively correlated with HCV NS3 antigen-specific interferon-γ responses, which corresponded to HCV clearance. CONCLUSIONS Increased Treg frequencies and reduced HCV-NS3 antigen-specific responses recovered after viral eradication in post-OLT chronic hepatitis C patients. Reduced Tr1 frequencies were associated with hepatitis activity control, which may facilitate controlling chronic hepatitis C in patients after OLT.
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Knolle PA, Thimme R. Hepatic immune regulation and its involvement in viral hepatitis infection. Gastroenterology 2014; 146:1193-207. [PMID: 24412289 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2013.12.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 158] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2013] [Revised: 12/22/2013] [Accepted: 12/27/2013] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The liver has unique immune regulatory functions that promote the induction of tolerance rather than responses to antigens encountered locally. These functions are mediated by local expression of coinhibitory receptors and immunosuppressive mediators that help prevent overwhelming tissue damage. Over the years, we have gained more insight into the local regulatory cues that determine the functional complexity of immune responses regulated locally in the liver. Both the unique hepatic microenvironment and the particular liver sinusoidal cell populations, in addition to hepatocytes, actively modulate immune responses locally in the liver and thereby determine the outcome of hepatic immune responses. This is of high biological and clinical relevance in hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infections, which can cause acute and persistent infections associated with chronic inflammation in humans that eventually progress to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Here, we review current knowledge about the balance between immunity and tolerance in the liver and how this may affect our understanding of the determinants of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus clearance, persistence, and virus-induced liver disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Percy A Knolle
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, Technische Universität München and Institutes of Molecular Medicine and Experimental Immunology, Universität Bonn, Bonn.
| | - Robert Thimme
- Department of Medicine, Clinic for Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology, Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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Ondondo BO. Fallen angels or risen apes? A tale of the intricate complexities of imbalanced immune responses in the pathogenesis and progression of immune-mediated and viral cancers. Front Immunol 2014; 5:90. [PMID: 24639678 PMCID: PMC3944202 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2014.00090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2013] [Accepted: 02/20/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Excessive immune responses directed against foreign pathogens, self-antigens, or commensal microflora can cause cancer establishment and progression if the execution of tight immuno-regulatory mechanisms fails. On the other hand, induction of potent tumor antigen-specific immune responses together with stimulation of the innate immune system is a pre-requisite for effective anti-tumor immunity, and if suppressed by the strong immuno-regulatory mechanisms can lead to cancer progression. Therefore, it is crucial that the inevitable co-existence of these fundamental, yet conflicting roles of immune-regulatory cells is carefully streamlined as imbalances can be detrimental to the host. Infection with chronic persistent viruses is characterized by severe immune dysfunction resulting in T cell exhaustion and sometimes deletion of antigen-specific T cells. More often, this is due to increased immuno-regulatory processes, which are triggered to down-regulate immune responses and limit immunopathology. However, such heightened levels of immune disruption cause a concomitant loss of tumor immune-surveillance and create a permissive microenvironment for cancer establishment and progression, as demonstrated by increased incidences of cancer in immunosuppressed hosts. Paradoxically, while some cancers arise as a consequence of increased immuno-regulatory mechanisms that inhibit protective immune responses and impinge on tumor surveillance, other cancers arise due to impaired immuno-regulatory mechanisms and failure to limit pathogenic inflammatory responses. This intricate complexity, where immuno-regulatory cells can be beneficial in certain immune settings but detrimental in other settings underscores the need for carefully formulated interventions to equilibrate the balance between immuno-stimulatory and immuno-regulatory processes.
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Liu J, Cao S, Peppers G, Kim SH, Graham BS. Clonotype-specific avidity influences the dynamics and hierarchy of virus-specific regulatory and effector CD4(+) T-cell responses. Eur J Immunol 2014; 44:1058-68. [PMID: 24510524 DOI: 10.1002/eji.201343766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2013] [Revised: 11/08/2013] [Accepted: 01/07/2014] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
A key component of immunity against viruses, CD4(+) T cells expand and differentiate into functional subsets upon primary infection, where effector (Teff) cells facilitate infection control and regulatory (Treg) cells mitigate immunopathology. After secondary infection, Teff cells mount a robust response from the memory pool. Here, we show that Treg-cell responses are diminished upon secondary infection, and Treg-cell response dynamics are associated more with T-cell receptors (TCRs) repertoire and avidity than with epitope specificity. In the murine model, the IA(b) M209 epitope of respiratory syncytial virus is recognized by both CD4(+) Treg and Teff cells, while the IA(b) M226 epitope is recognized almost exclusively by CD4(+) Teff cells expressing high avidity TCR Vβ8.1/8.2 and dominating the CD4(+) T-cell response during primary and secondary infections. IA(b) M209 -Teff cells express relatively low avidity TCRs during early primary infection, but high avidity TCR Vβ7-expressing IA(b) M209 -Teff cells emerge during the late phase, and become dominant after secondary infection. The emerging high avidity IA(b) M209 -Teff cells outcompete IA(b) M209 -Treg cells that share the same epitope, but have low avidity and are restricted to TCR Vβ2 and Vβ6 subpopulations. These data indicate that MHC-peptide-TCR interactions can produce different kinetic and functional profiles in CD4(+) T-cell populations even when responding to the same epitope.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Liu
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health, MD, USA
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Fernandez-Ponce C, Dominguez-Villar M, Aguado E, Garcia-Cozar F. CD4+ primary T cells expressing HCV-core protein upregulate Foxp3 and IL-10, suppressing CD4 and CD8 T cells. PLoS One 2014; 9:e85191. [PMID: 24465502 PMCID: PMC3896374 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0085191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2012] [Accepted: 11/30/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Adaptive T cell responses are critical for controlling HCV infection. While there is clinical evidence of a relevant role for regulatory T cells in chronic HCV-infected patients, based on their increased number and function; mechanisms underlying such a phenomena are still poorly understood. Accumulating evidence suggests that proteins from Hepatitis C virus can suppress host immune responses. We and others have shown that HCV is present in CD4+ lymphocytes from chronically infected patients and that HCV-core protein induces a state of unresponsiveness in the CD4+ tumor cell line Jurkat. Here we show that CD4+ primary T cells lentivirally transduced with HCV-core, not only acquire an anergic phenotype but also inhibit IL-2 production and proliferation of bystander CD4+ or CD8+ T cells in response to anti-CD3 plus anti-CD28 stimulation. Core-transduced CD4+ T cells show a phenotype characterized by an increased basal secretion of the regulatory cytokine IL-10, a decreased IFN-γ production upon stimulation, as well as expression of regulatory T cell markers, CTLA-4, and Foxp3. A significant induction of CD4+CD25+CD127(low)PD-1(high)TIM-3(high) regulatory T cells with an exhausted phenotype was also observed. Moreover, CCR7 expression decreased in HCV-core expressing CD4+ T cells explaining their sequestration in inflamed tissues such as the infected liver. This work provides a new perspective on de novo generation of regulatory CD4+ T cells in the periphery, induced by the expression of a single viral protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Fernandez-Ponce
- Department of Biomedicine, Biotechnology and Public Health (Immunology), University of Cadiz and Puerto Real University Hospital Research Unit, School of Medicine, Cadiz, Spain
| | - Margarita Dominguez-Villar
- Department of Biomedicine, Biotechnology and Public Health (Immunology), University of Cadiz and Puerto Real University Hospital Research Unit, School of Medicine, Cadiz, Spain
| | - Enrique Aguado
- Department of Biomedicine, Biotechnology and Public Health (Immunology), University of Cadiz and Puerto Real University Hospital Research Unit, School of Medicine, Cadiz, Spain
| | - Francisco Garcia-Cozar
- Department of Biomedicine, Biotechnology and Public Health (Immunology), University of Cadiz and Puerto Real University Hospital Research Unit, School of Medicine, Cadiz, Spain
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49
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The phenotype and activation status of regulatory T cells during Friend retrovirus infection. Virol Sin 2014; 29:48-60. [PMID: 24452537 DOI: 10.1007/s12250-014-3396-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2013] [Accepted: 01/03/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The suppressive capacity of regulatory T cells (Tregs) has been extensively studied and is well established for many diseases. The expansion, accumulation, and activation of Tregs in viral infections are of major interest in order to find ways to alter Treg functions for therapeutic benefit. Tregs are able to dampen effector T cell responses to viral infections and thereby contribute to the establishment of a chronic infection. In the Friend retrovirus (FV) mouse model, Tregs are known to expand in all infected organs. To better understand the characteristics of these Treg populations, their phenotype was analyzed in detail. During acute FV-infection, Tregs became activated in the spleen and bone marrow, as indicated by various T cell activation markers, such as CD43 and CD103. Interestingly, Tregs in the bone marrow, which contains the highest viral loads during acute infection, displayed greater levels of activation than Tregs from the spleen. Treg expansion was driven by proliferation but no FV-specific Tregs could be detected. Activated Tregs in FV-infection did not produce Granzyme B (GzmB) or tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), which are thought to be a potential mechanism for their suppressive activity. Furthermore, Tregs expressed inhibitory markers, such as TIM3, PD-1 and PD-L1. Blocking TIM3 and PD-L1 with antibodies during chronic FV-infection increased the numbers of activated Tregs. These data may have important implications for the understanding of Treg functions during chronic viral infections.
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Cao H, Wen P, Ye H, Sun Z, Shen X, Wu X, Dai C, Yang J. A study of the immunoloregulation of double filtration plasmapheresis in maintenance hemodialysis patients with chronic hepatitis C. PLoS One 2013; 8:e82524. [PMID: 24358197 PMCID: PMC3864956 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0082524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2013] [Accepted: 10/24/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Although a large number of drugs have been used to treat chronic hepatitis C (CHC), there still remains a great challenge to treat maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients with chronic hepatitis C. To clarify the immunnoloregulation of double filtration plasmapheresis (DFPP) in MHD patients with CHC, DFPP was performed in 20 MHD patients with CHC (HCV-antibody positive, serum HCV RNA >500 IU/ml more than 6 months and HCV genotype 1b). The clinical data was collected and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were analyzed by flow cytometry at the time of hour 0, hour 3, day 3, day 7 and day 28 after the DFPP, respectively. Serum HCV particles could be removed partially by the DFPP. The titer of serum HCV RNA could remain in a lower level even 28 days after the treatment. Compared to MHD patients without HCV infection, the frequencies of innate immune cells were similar in MHD patients with CHC, while Th1/Th2 was elevated and the frequencies of regulatory T (Treg) cells were higher in those MHD patients with CHC. The frequencies of monocytes and natural killer (NK) cells remained after the DFPP in MHD patients with CHC. There were no significant changes of Th1, Th2 and Th1/Th2 in PBMC after DFPP. DFPP could reduce the frequencies of Th17 cells and Treg cells in PBMC from 7 days after DFPP in MHD patients with CHC. DFPP could partially remove the serum HCV particles mechanically. The titer of HCV RNA could remain in a lower level at least for 28 days probably due to the redistribution of the immunocytes in circulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongdi Cao
- Center for Kidney Disease, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Ping Wen
- Center for Kidney Disease, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Hong Ye
- Center for Kidney Disease, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Zhiping Sun
- Center for Kidney Disease, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Xia Shen
- Center for Kidney Disease, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Xiaochun Wu
- Center for Kidney Disease, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Chunsun Dai
- Center for Kidney Disease, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Junwei Yang
- Center for Kidney Disease, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
- * E-mail:
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