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D'Aniello A, Del Bene A, Mottola S, Mazzarella V, Cutolo R, Campagna E, Di Maro S, Messere A. The bright side of chemistry: Exploring synthetic peptide-based anticancer vaccines. J Pept Sci 2024; 30:e3596. [PMID: 38571326 DOI: 10.1002/psc.3596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
The present review focuses on synthetic peptide-based vaccine strategies in the context of anticancer intervention, paying attention to critical aspects such as peptide epitope selection, adjuvant integration, and nuanced classification of synthetic peptide cancer vaccines. Within this discussion, we delve into the diverse array of synthetic peptide-based anticancer vaccines, each derived from tumor-associated antigens (TAAs), including melanoma antigen recognized by T cells 1 (Melan-A or MART-1), mucin 1 (MUC1), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2), tumor protein 53 (p53), human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), survivin, folate receptor (FR), cancer-testis antigen 1 (NY-ESO-1), and prostate-specific antigen (PSA). We also describe the synthetic peptide-based vaccines developed for cancers triggered by oncovirus, such as human papillomavirus (HPV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV). Additionally, the potential synergy of peptide-based vaccines with common therapeutics in cancer was considered. The last part of our discussion deals with the realm of the peptide-based vaccines delivery, highlighting its role in translating the most promising candidates into effective clinical strategies. Although this discussion does not cover all the ongoing peptide vaccine investigations, it aims at offering valuable insights into the chemical modifications and the structural complexities of anticancer peptide-based vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonia D'Aniello
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
| | - Alessandra Del Bene
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
| | - Salvatore Mottola
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Mazzarella
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
| | - Roberto Cutolo
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
| | - Erica Campagna
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
| | - Salvatore Di Maro
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
- Interuniversity Research Centre on Bioactive Peptides (CIRPEB), Naples, Italy
| | - Anna Messere
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
- Interuniversity Research Centre on Bioactive Peptides (CIRPEB), Naples, Italy
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Doyle EH, Aloman C, El-Shamy A, Eng FJ, Kim-Schulze S, Rahman A, Schiano T, Heeger P, Branch AD. Imprinted immune abnormalities in liver transplant patients cured of hepatitis C with antiviral drugs. Liver Transpl 2024; 30:728-741. [PMID: 38315053 DOI: 10.1097/lvt.0000000000000342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
Chronic HCV infection induces interferon and dysregulates immune responses through inflammation and chronic antigenic stimulation. Antiviral drugs can cure HCV, providing a unique opportunity to examine the immunological restoration that does and does not occur when a chronic viral infection is eradicated. We quantified blood cytokines levels and used mass cytometry to immunophenotype peripheral blood mononuclear cells before and after HCV cure in 2 groups of patients and controls. At baseline, serum interferon α and soluble CD163 (a macrophage product) were elevated in both liver transplant and nonliver transplant patients compared to controls; the frequencies of several peripheral blood mononuclear cell populations differed from controls; and programmed death protein 1-positivity was increased in nearly all T cell subsets. Many abnormalities persisted after HCV cure, including elevated programmed death protein 1 expression on CD4 naïve and central memory T cells, elevated soluble CD163, and expansion of the plasmablast/plasma cell compartment. Several myeloid-lineage subsets, including Ag-presenting dendritic cells, remained dysregulated. In mechanistic studies, interferon α treatment increased programmed death protein 1 on human T cells and increased T cell receptor signaling. The data identify immunological abnormalities that persist after curative HCV treatment. Before cure, high levels of interferon α may stimulate programmed death protein 1 expression on human T cells, causing persistent functional changes.
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MESH Headings
- Humans
- Liver Transplantation/adverse effects
- Male
- Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use
- Middle Aged
- Female
- Antigens, CD/immunology
- Antigens, CD/blood
- Antigens, CD/metabolism
- Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic/blood
- Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic/immunology
- Hepatitis C, Chronic/immunology
- Hepatitis C, Chronic/drug therapy
- Hepatitis C, Chronic/blood
- Hepatitis C, Chronic/surgery
- Interferon-alpha/therapeutic use
- Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor/antagonists & inhibitors
- Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor/immunology
- Receptors, Cell Surface/blood
- Receptors, Cell Surface/immunology
- Adult
- Case-Control Studies
- Aged
- Hepacivirus/immunology
- Hepacivirus/drug effects
- Leukocytes, Mononuclear/immunology
- Cytokines/blood
- Immunophenotyping
- Treatment Outcome
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin H Doyle
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Costica Aloman
- Department of Surgery, Westchester Medical Center, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York, USA
| | - Ahmed El-Shamy
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- College of Graduate Studies, Master of Pharmaceutical Sciences Program
| | - Francis J Eng
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Seunghee Kim-Schulze
- Human Immune Monitoring Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Adeeb Rahman
- Human Immune Monitoring Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Thomas Schiano
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Peter Heeger
- Division of Nephrology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Andrea D Branch
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
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Cai C, Keoshkerian E, Wing K, Samir J, Effenberger M, Schober K, Bull RA, Lloyd AR, Busch DH, Luciani F. Discovery of a monoclonal, high-affinity CD8 + T-cell clone following natural hepatitis C virus infection. Immunol Cell Biol 2024. [PMID: 38855806 DOI: 10.1111/imcb.12791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 05/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
CD8+ T cells recognizing their cognate antigen are typically recruited as a polyclonal population consisting of multiple clonotypes with varying T-cell receptor (TCR) affinity to the target peptide-major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) complex. Advances in single-cell sequencing have increased accessibility toward identifying TCRs with matched antigens. Here we present the discovery of a monoclonal CD8+ T-cell population with specificity for a hepatitis C virus (HCV)-derived human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I epitope (HLA-B*07:02 GPRLGVRAT) which was isolated directly ex vivo from an individual with an episode of acutely resolved HCV infection. This population was absent before infection and underwent expansion and stable maintenance for at least 2 years after infection as measured by HLA-multimer staining. Furthermore, the monoclonal clonotype was characterized by an unusually long dissociation time (half-life = 794 s and koff = 5.73 × 10-4) for its target antigen when compared with previously published results. A comparison with related populations of HCV-specific populations derived from the same individual and a second individual suggested that high-affinity TCR-pMHC interactions may be inherent to epitope identity and shape the phenotype of responses which has implications for rational TCR selection and design in the age of personalized immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Curtis Cai
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- The Kirby Institute, Faculty of Health and Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Elizabeth Keoshkerian
- The Kirby Institute, Faculty of Health and Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Kristof Wing
- School of Medicine and Health, Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Jerome Samir
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Manuel Effenberger
- School of Medicine and Health, Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Kilian Schober
- Mikrobiologisches Institut - Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Rowena A Bull
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- The Kirby Institute, Faculty of Health and Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Andrew R Lloyd
- The Kirby Institute, Faculty of Health and Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Dirk H Busch
- School of Medicine and Health, Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (Deutsches Zentrum für Infektionsforschung), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Fabio Luciani
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- The Kirby Institute, Faculty of Health and Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Cellular Genomics Future Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York City, NY, USA
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Atehortua L, Sean Davidson W, Chougnet CA. Interactions Between HDL and CD4+ T Cells: A Novel Understanding of HDL Anti-Inflammatory Properties. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2024; 44:1191-1201. [PMID: 38660807 PMCID: PMC11111342 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.124.320851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Several studies in animal models and human cohorts have recently suggested that HDLs (high-density lipoproteins) not only modulate innate immune responses but also adaptative immune responses, particularly CD4+ T cells. CD4+ T cells are central effectors and regulators of the adaptive immune system, and any alterations in their homeostasis contribute to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases, autoimmunity, and inflammatory diseases. In this review, we focus on how HDLs and their components affect CD4+ T-cell homeostasis by modulating cholesterol efflux, immune synapsis, proliferation, differentiation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. While the effects of apoB-containing lipoproteins on T cells have been relatively well established, this review focuses specifically on new connections between HDL and CD4+ T cells. We present a model where HDL may modulate T cells through both direct and indirect mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Atehortua
- Division of Immunobiology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Research Foundation, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH
| | - W. Sean Davidson
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Claire A. Chougnet
- Division of Immunobiology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Research Foundation, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH
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Sallam M, Khalil R. Contemporary Insights into Hepatitis C Virus: A Comprehensive Review. Microorganisms 2024; 12:1035. [PMID: 38930417 PMCID: PMC11205832 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12061035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) remains a significant global health challenge. Approximately 50 million people were living with chronic hepatitis C based on the World Health Organization as of 2024, contributing extensively to global morbidity and mortality. The advent and approval of several direct-acting antiviral (DAA) regimens significantly improved HCV treatment, offering potentially high rates of cure for chronic hepatitis C. However, the promising aim of eventual HCV eradication remains challenging. Key challenges include the variability in DAA access across different regions, slightly variable response rates to DAAs across diverse patient populations and HCV genotypes/subtypes, and the emergence of resistance-associated substitutions (RASs), potentially conferring resistance to DAAs. Therefore, periodic reassessment of current HCV knowledge is needed. An up-to-date review on HCV is also necessitated based on the observed shifts in HCV epidemiological trends, continuous development and approval of therapeutic strategies, and changes in public health policies. Thus, the current comprehensive review aimed to integrate the latest knowledge on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnostic approaches, treatment options and preventive strategies for HCV, with a particular focus on the current challenges associated with RASs and ongoing efforts in vaccine development. This review sought to provide healthcare professionals, researchers, and policymakers with the necessary insights to address the HCV burden more effectively. We aimed to highlight the progress made in managing and preventing HCV infection and to highlight the persistent barriers challenging the prevention of HCV infection. The overarching goal was to align with global health objectives towards reducing the burden of chronic hepatitis, aiming for its eventual elimination as a public health threat by 2030.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malik Sallam
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
- Department of Clinical Laboratories and Forensic Medicine, Jordan University Hospital, Amman 11942, Jordan
| | - Roaa Khalil
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
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Morihisa Y, Chung H, Towatari S, Yamashita D, Inokuma T. Autoimmune hepatitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis after direct-acting antiviral treatment for hepatitis C virus: A case report. World J Hepatol 2024; 16:286-293. [PMID: 38495284 PMCID: PMC10941733 DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v16.i2.286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major global health concern that leads to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and cancer. Regimens containing direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) have become the mainstay of HCV treatment, achieving a high sustained virological response (SVR) with minimal adverse events. CASE SUMMARY A 74-year-old woman with chronic HCV infection was treated with the DAAs ledipasvir, and sofosbuvir for 12 wk and achieved SVR. Twenty-four weeks after treatment completion, the liver enzyme and serum IgG levels increased, and antinuclear antibody became positive without HCV viremia, suggesting the development of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). After liver biopsy indicated AIH, a definite AIH diagnosis was made and prednisolone was initiated. The treatment was effective, and the liver enzyme and serum IgG levels normalized. However, multiple strictures of the intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts with dilatation of the peripheral bile ducts appeared on magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography after 3 years of achieving SVR, which were consistent with primary sclerosing cholangitis. CONCLUSION The potential risk of developing autoimmune liver diseases after DAA treatment should be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshiki Morihisa
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital, Kobe 650-0047, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Hobyung Chung
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital, Kobe 650-0047, Hyogo, Japan.
| | - Shuichiro Towatari
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital, Kobe 650-0047, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Daisuke Yamashita
- Department of Pathology, Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital, Kobe 650-0047, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Tetsuro Inokuma
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital, Kobe 650-0047, Hyogo, Japan
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7
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Lin SH, Wu KT, Wang CC, Huang KT, Hsu LW, Eng HL, Chiu KW. Immune Responses to Anti-Hepatitis C Virus Antibodies during Pre-Liver Transplantation Direct-Acting Antiviral Therapy in Hepatitis C Virus-Infected Recipients Associated with Post-Liver Transplantation Allograft Injury. Antibodies (Basel) 2024; 13:7. [PMID: 38247571 PMCID: PMC10801541 DOI: 10.3390/antib13010007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS The impact of antibody responses following direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected recipients before and after liver transplantation (LT) is still undetermined. METHODS In this observational cohort study, we aimed to explore the association between changes in anti-HCV antibody titers following pre-LT DAA therapy and allograft injury, including biliary complications (BCs) and acute cellular rejection (ACR). RESULTS A total of 153 cases were enrolled from January 2015 to February 2021. Serum anti-HCV antibody titers were assessed before and after (day 30) LT. Among all recipients, 31/153 (20.3%) had pre-LT DAA therapy (the DAA group) and 122/153 (79.7%) did not undergo pre-LT DAA therapy (the DAA-naïve group). A higher incidence of post-LT BCs was observed in the DAA group (p = 0.028). Compared with the DAA-naïve group, the DAA group had a significantly higher mean level of anti-HCV titer upregulation (p = 0.0024); furthermore, among the recipients with BCs (n = 28) and ACR (n = 41), those in the DAA group exhibited significantly higher mean levels of anti-HCV antibody titer upregulation (p < 0.005). CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, we speculate that the upregulation of anti-HCV antibody titers, which might have been induced via the restoration of HCV-specific immune responses through pre-LT DAA therapy, was associated with post-LT allograft injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu-Hsien Lin
- Division of Hepato-Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan;
- Liver Transplantation Center, Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan; (C.-C.W.); (K.-T.H.); (L.-W.H.); (H.-L.E.)
| | - Kun-Ta Wu
- E-Da Healthcare Group, E-Da Hospital, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 82445, Taiwan;
| | - Chih-Chi Wang
- Liver Transplantation Center, Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan; (C.-C.W.); (K.-T.H.); (L.-W.H.); (H.-L.E.)
- College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan
- Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
| | - Kuang-Tzu Huang
- Liver Transplantation Center, Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan; (C.-C.W.); (K.-T.H.); (L.-W.H.); (H.-L.E.)
- Institute for Translational Research in Biomedicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
| | - Li-Wen Hsu
- Liver Transplantation Center, Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan; (C.-C.W.); (K.-T.H.); (L.-W.H.); (H.-L.E.)
- Institute for Translational Research in Biomedicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
| | - Hock-Liew Eng
- Liver Transplantation Center, Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan; (C.-C.W.); (K.-T.H.); (L.-W.H.); (H.-L.E.)
- College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan
- Department of Pathology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
| | - King-Wah Chiu
- Division of Hepato-Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan;
- Liver Transplantation Center, Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan; (C.-C.W.); (K.-T.H.); (L.-W.H.); (H.-L.E.)
- College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan
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Ramezany H, Kheirandish M, Sharifi Z, Samiee S. Study on genotyping and coinfection rate of human parvovirus 4 among the HTLV-I/II infected blood donors in Khorasan Razavi, Iran. Heliyon 2023; 9:e21406. [PMID: 37954296 PMCID: PMC10637982 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Human Parvovirus 4 (PARV4) is an emerging virus infecting individuals with other blood-borne diseases. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of PARV4 in confirmed HTLVI/II positive samples from blood donors, assessing PARV4 viral load (DNA) and genotyping. METHODS A novel qReal-Time PCR, based on a plasmid construct, was developed to simultaneously detect all three PARV4 genotypes using in-house primers and probes. Positive qPCR samples were subjected to nested PCR amplification and subsequent sequencing. Phylogenetic trees were constructed using the Neighbor-joining (N.J.) method. RESULTS The coinfection rate of PARV4-DNA in HTLVI/II confirmed infected donors, who were previously deferred, was 14.4 % (13 out of 90), with no observed association with donation status (p = 1.0). Phylogenetic analysis indicated that PARV4-positive samples closely resembled genotype 2 in Iran.qPCR quantification demonstrated significant PARV4 viral loads in positive samples, ranging between 104 and 106 DNA copies/mL of serum. CONCLUSION This study presents the first evaluation of HTLVI/II and PARV4coinfection rates among blood donors. Notably, elevated PARV4-DNA titers were detected in HTLVI/II-positive donors. Given PARV's resistance to standard plasma refinery inactivation methods and the absence of its targeted inactivation, its potential impact remains a concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hooman Ramezany
- Department of Immunology, Blood Transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization, Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Kheirandish
- Department of Immunology, Blood Transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization, Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zohreh Sharifi
- Department of Medical Virology, Blood Transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Iran
| | - Shahram Samiee
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Blood Transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Iran
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Tourkochristou E, Tsounis EP, Tzoupis H, Aggeletopoulou I, Tsintoni A, Lourida T, Diamantopoulou G, Zisimopoulos K, Kafentzi T, de Lastic AL, Rodi M, Tselios T, Thomopoulos K, Mouzaki A, Triantos C. The Influence of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms on Vitamin D Receptor Protein Levels and Function in Chronic Liver Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11404. [PMID: 37511164 PMCID: PMC10380285 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene have been associated with chronic liver disease. We investigated the role of VDR SNPs on VDR protein levels and function in patients with chronic liver disease. VDR expression levels were determined in peripheral T lymphocytes (CD3+VDR+), monocytes (CD14+VDR+), and plasma from patients (n = 66) and healthy controls (n = 38). Genotyping of SNPs and the determination of expression of VDR/vitamin D-related genes were performed by using qPCR. The effect of FokI SNP on vitamin D-binding to VDR was investigated by molecular dynamics simulations. CD14+VDR+ cells were correlated with the MELD score. The ApaI SNP was associated with decreased CD3+VDR+ levels in cirrhotic patients and with higher liver stiffness in HCV patients. The BsmI and TaqI SNPs were associated with increased VDR plasma concentrations in cirrhotic patients and decreased CD14+VDR+ levels in HCV patients. The FokI SNP was associated with increased CD3+VDR+ levels in cirrhotic patients and controls. VDR polymorphisms were significantly related to the expression of genes critical for normal hepatocyte function and immune homeostasis. VDR expression levels were related to the clinical severity of liver disease. VDR SNPs may be related to the progression of chronic liver disease by affecting VDR expression levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evanthia Tourkochristou
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Patras, University Hospital of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
| | - Efthymios P Tsounis
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Patras, University Hospital of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
| | | | - Ioanna Aggeletopoulou
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Patras, University Hospital of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
| | - Aggeliki Tsintoni
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Patras, University Hospital of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
| | - Theoni Lourida
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Patras, University Hospital of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
| | - Georgia Diamantopoulou
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Patras, University Hospital of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Zisimopoulos
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Patras, University Hospital of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
| | - Theodora Kafentzi
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Patras, University Hospital of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
| | - Anne-Lise de Lastic
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
| | - Maria Rodi
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
| | - Theodore Tselios
- Department of Chemistry, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Thomopoulos
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Patras, University Hospital of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
| | - Athanasia Mouzaki
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
| | - Christos Triantos
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Patras, University Hospital of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
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10
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Hassert M, Arumugam S, Harty JT. Memory CD8+ T cell-mediated protection against liver-stage malaria. Immunol Rev 2023; 316:84-103. [PMID: 37014087 PMCID: PMC10524177 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023]
Abstract
Nearly half of the world's population is at risk of malaria, a disease caused by the protozoan parasite Plasmodium, which is estimated to cause more than 240,000,000 infections and kill more than 600,000 people annually. The emergence of Plasmodia resistant to chemoprophylactic treatment highlights the urgency to develop more effective vaccines. In this regard, whole sporozoite vaccination approaches in murine models and human challenge studies have provided substantial insight into the immune correlates of protection from malaria. From these studies, CD8+ T cells have come to the forefront, being identified as critical for vaccine-mediated liver-stage immunity that can prevent the establishment of the symptomatic blood stages and subsequent transmission of infection. However, the unique biological characteristics required for CD8+ T cell protection from liver-stage malaria dictate that more work must be done to design effective vaccines. In this review, we will highlight a subset of studies that reveal basic aspects of memory CD8+ T cell-mediated protection from liver-stage malaria infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariah Hassert
- Department of Pathology, University of Iowa- Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Sahaana Arumugam
- Department of Pathology, University of Iowa- Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Iowa- Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Immunology, University of Iowa- Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - John T. Harty
- Department of Pathology, University of Iowa- Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Immunology, University of Iowa- Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA
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11
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Kochanowicz AM, Osuch S, Berak H, Kumorek A, Caraballo Cortés K. Double Positive CD4 +CD8 + (DP) T-Cells Display Distinct Exhaustion Phenotype in Chronic Hepatitis C. Cells 2023; 12:1446. [PMID: 37408280 DOI: 10.3390/cells12101446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In chronic hepatitis C (CHC), characterized by exhaustion of T-cell function, increased frequencies of double-positive (DP) (CD4+CD8+) cells are present in peripheral blood. We compared the exhaustion phenotype between DP and single positive (SP) T-cells, including HCV-specific cells, and assessed the effect of successful HCV treatment on inhibitory receptors expression. Blood samples from 97 CHC patients were collected before and six months post-treatment. PD-1 (programmed cell death protein 1) and Tim-3 (T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing molecule-3) expression was assessed by flow cytometry. DP T-cells displayed significantly higher PD-1 expression, lower Tim-3 expression than CD8+ SP T-cells and lower percentages of PD-1-Tim-3- cells than CD4+ SP T-cells, both before and after treatment. PD-1+Tim-3+ DP T-cells decreased following treatment. HCV-specific cells were more frequent among DP than SP T-cells, both before and after treatment. HCV-specific DP T-cells were characterized by lower PD-1 expression, higher PD-1 and Tim-3 co-expression, and lower percentages of PD-1-Tim-3- cells (both before and after treatment) and higher post-treatment Tim-3 than HCV-specific SP T-cells. Their percentages decreased following treatment, but the exhaustion phenotype remained unchanged. DP T-cells in CHC exhibit a distinct exhaustion phenotype from SP T-cells, and these changes mostly persist following successful treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Maria Kochanowicz
- Department of Immunopathology of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Sylwia Osuch
- Department of Immunopathology of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Hanna Berak
- Outpatient Clinic, Warsaw Hospital for Infectious Diseases, 01-201 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Kumorek
- Department of Immunopathology of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Kamila Caraballo Cortés
- Department of Immunopathology of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
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12
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Vimali J, Yong YK, Murugesan A, Tan HY, Zhang Y, Ashwin R, Raju S, Balakrishnan P, Larsson M, Velu V, Shankar EM. Chronic viral infection compromises the quality of circulating mucosal-invariant T cells and follicular T helper cells via expression of both activating and inhibitory receptors. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2862719. [PMID: 37163092 PMCID: PMC10168456 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2862719/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Chronic viral infection results in impaired immune responses rendering viral persistence. Here, we investigated the role of immune activation and compared the quality of T-cell responses in chronic HBV, HCV, and HIV infections. Cytokines were measured using a commercial Bio-plex Pro Human Cytokine Grp I Panel 17-plex kit (BioRad, Hercules, CA, USA). Inflammation was assessed by measuring an array of plasma cytokines, and peripheral CD4+ T cells including circulating Tfh cells, CD8+ T cells, and TCR iVα7.2+ MAIT cells in chronic HBV, HCV, and HIV-infected patients and healthy controls. The cells were characterized based markers pertaining to immune activation (CD69, ICOS, and CD27) proliferation (Ki67), cytokine production (TNF-α, IFN-γ) and exhaustion (PD-1). The cytokine levels and T cell phenotypes together with cell markers were correlated with surrogate markers of disease progression. The activation marker CD69 was significantly increased in CD4+ hi T cells, while CD8+ MAIT cells expressing IFN-γ were significantly increased in chronic HBV, HCV and HIV infections. Six cell phenotypes, viz., TNF-α+CD4+ lo T cells, CD69+CD8+ T cells, CD69+CD4+ MAIT cells, PD-1+CD4+ hi T cells, PD-1+CD8+ T cells, Ki67+CD4+ MAIT cells were independently associated with decelerating the plasma viral load (PVL). TNF-α levels showed a positive correlation with increase in cytokine levels and decrease in PVL. Chronic viral infection negatively impacts the quality of peripheral MAIT cells and TFH cells via expression of both activating and inhibitory receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaisheela Vimali
- Department of Life Sciences, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur, India
| | | | - Amudhan Murugesan
- Department of Microbiology, Government Theni Medical College and Hospital, Theni, India
| | | | | | - Rajeev Ashwin
- Department of Life Sciences, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur, India
| | - Sivadoss Raju
- Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Chennai, India
| | - Pachamuthu Balakrishnan
- Centre for Infectious Diseases, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Chennai, India
| | - Marie Larsson
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, 58185 Linköping, Sweden
| | - Vijayakumar Velu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta GA, United States
| | - Esaki M Shankar
- Department of Life Sciences, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur, India
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13
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Sarantis P, Trifylli EM, Koustas E, Papavassiliou KA, Karamouzis MV, Papavassiliou AG. Immune Microenvironment and Immunotherapeutic Management in Virus-Associated Digestive System Tumors. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:13612. [PMID: 36362398 PMCID: PMC9655697 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232113612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of cancer is a multifactorial phenomenon, while it constitutes a major global health problem. Viruses are an important factor that is involved in tumorigenesis and is associated with 12.1% of all cancer cases. Major examples of oncogenic viruses which are closely associated with the digestive system are HBV, HCV, EBV, HPV, JCV, and CMV. EBV, HPV, JCV, and CMV directly cause oncogenesis by expressing oncogenic proteins that are encoded in their genome. In contrast, HBV and HCV are correlated indirectly with carcinogenesis by causing chronic inflammation in the infected organs. In addition, the tumor microenvironment contains various immune cells, endothelial cells, and fibroblasts, as well as several growth factors, cytokines, and other tumor-secreted molecules that play a key role in tumor growth, progression, and migration, while they are closely interrelated with the virus. The presence of T-regulatory and B-regulatory cells in the tumor microenvironment plays an important role in the anti-tumor immune reaction. The tumor immune microenvironments differ in each type of cancer and depend on viral infection. The alterations in the immune microenvironment caused by viruses are also reflected in the effectiveness of immunotherapy. The present review aims at shedding light on the association between viruses and digestive system malignancies, the characteristics of the tumor immune microenvironment that develop, and the possible treatments that can be administered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panagiotis Sarantis
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Eleni-Myrto Trifylli
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
- First Department of Internal Medicine, 417 Army Share Fund Hospital, 11521 Athens, Greece
| | - Evangelos Koustas
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
- First Department of Internal Medicine, 417 Army Share Fund Hospital, 11521 Athens, Greece
| | - Kostas A. Papavassiliou
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Michalis V. Karamouzis
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Athanasios G. Papavassiliou
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
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14
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Leslie J, Geh D, Elsharkawy AM, Mann DA, Vacca M. Metabolic dysfunction and cancer in HCV: Shared pathways and mutual interactions. J Hepatol 2022; 77:219-236. [PMID: 35157957 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2022.01.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
HCV hijacks many host metabolic processes in an effort to aid viral replication. The resulting hepatic metabolic dysfunction underpins many of the hepatic and extrahepatic manifestations of chronic hepatitis C (CHC). However, the natural history of CHC is also substantially influenced by the host metabolic status: obesity, insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis are major determinants of CHC progression toward hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) have transformed the treatment and natural history of CHC. While DAA therapy effectively eradicates the virus, the long-lasting overlapping metabolic disease can persist, especially in the presence of obesity, increasing the risk of liver disease progression. This review covers the mechanisms by which HCV tunes hepatic and systemic metabolism, highlighting how systemic metabolic disturbance, lipotoxicity and chronic inflammation favour disease progression and a precancerous niche. We also highlight the therapeutic implications of sustained metabolic dysfunction following sustained virologic response as well as considerations for patients who develop HCC on the background of metabolic dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack Leslie
- Newcastle Fibrosis Research Group, Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Daniel Geh
- Newcastle Fibrosis Research Group, Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Ahmed M Elsharkawy
- Liver Unit, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Medical Centre, Birmingham, B15 2TH UK; National Institute for Health Research, Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
| | - Derek A Mann
- Newcastle Fibrosis Research Group, Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, School of Medicine, Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey.
| | - Michele Vacca
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Università degli Studi di Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy.
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15
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Masoudi MR, Rafati A. Immunogenicity against hepatitis C virus with mesenchymal stem cells of inbreed BALB/c mice sub cloned with HCVcp protein gene. Transpl Immunol 2022; 74:101651. [PMID: 35764239 DOI: 10.1016/j.trim.2022.101651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM Hepatitis C is one of the leading causes of liver disease in the world and despite extensive research, there is still no vaccine against it. Researchers have identified cell-based therapies as an alternative strategy in advanced liver disorders. The aim of this study was to transfer the hepatitis C virus core protein (HCVcp) gene into mesenchymal stem cells and to evaluate its immunogenicity after injection into mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS The present study had two experimental and animal stages. In the first step, by designing a vector containing the HCVcp gene and transferring it into the mesenchymal stem cell, gene expression and protein production by the mesenchymal stem cell manipulated by PCR and SDS-PAGE were confirmed. In the second stage, by injecting manipulated mesenchymal stem cells into mice, the level of humoral immune stimulation and splenocytes proliferation was assessed by the ELISA commercial kit. RESULTS According to molecular studies, the expression of HCVcp was confirmed by mesenchymal stem cells. Also, splenocytes proliferation rate (0.316 ± 0.029) and antibody titer (284 ± 47) in mice treated with manipulated mesenchymal stem cells were significantly increased compared to the control group. CONCLUSION The results of the present study showed that the use of genetically engineered mesenchymal stem cells while maintaining the immunomodulatory properties of these cells can stimulate specific immune system responses against hepatitis C central protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmood Reza Masoudi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Sirjan School of Medical Sciences, Sirjan, Iran
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16
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Wildner NH, Walker A, Brauneck F, Ditt V, Peine S, Huber S, Haag F, Beisel C, Timm J, Schulze zur Wiesch J. Transcriptional Pattern Analysis of Virus-Specific CD8+ T Cells in Hepatitis C Infection: Increased Expression of TOX and Eomesodermin During and After Persistent Antigen Recognition. Front Immunol 2022; 13:886646. [PMID: 35734162 PMCID: PMC9207347 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.886646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Thymocyte selection-associated high mobility group box (TOX) has been described to be a key regulator in the formation of CD8+ T cell exhaustion. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection with different lengths of antigen exposure in acute, chronic, and after resolution of HCV infection is the ideal immunological model to study the expression of TOX in HCV-specific CD8+ T cells with different exposure to antigen. HCV-specific CD8+ T cells from 35 HLA-A*01:01, HLA-A*02:01, and HLA-A*24:02 positive patients were analyzed with a 16-color FACS-panel evaluating the surface expression of lineage markers (CD3, CD8), ectoenzymes (CD39, CD73), markers of differentiation (CD45RO, CCR7, CD127), and markers of exhaustion and activation (TIGIT, PD-1, KLRG1, CD226) and transcription factors (TOX, Eomesodermin, T-bet). Here, we defined on-target T cells as T cells against epitopes without escape mutations and off-target T cells as those against a "historical" antigen mutated in the autologous sequence. TOX+HCV-specific CD8+ T cells from patients with chronic HCV and on-target T cells displayed co-expression of Eomesodermin and were associated with the formation of terminally exhausted CD127-PD1hi, CD39hi, CD73low CD8+ T cells. In contrast, TOX+HCV-specific CD8+ T cells in patients with off-target T cells represented a progenitor memory Tex phenotype characterized by CD127hi expression and a CD39low and CD73hi phenotype. TOX+HCV-specified CD8+ T cells in patients with a sustained virologic response were characterized by a memory phenotype (CD127+, CD73hi) and co-expression of immune checkpoints and Eomesodermin, indicating a key structure in priming of HCV-specific CD8+ T cells in the chronic stage, which persisted as a residual after therapy. Overall, the occurrence of TOX+HCV-specific CD8+ T cells was revealed at each disease stage, which impacted the development of progenitor Tex, intermediate Tex, and terminally exhausted T cell through an individual molecular footprint. In sum, TOX is induced early during acute infection but is modulated by changes in viral sequence and antigen recognition. In the case of antigen persistence, the interaction with Eomesodermin leads to the formation of terminally exhausted virus-specific CD8+ T cells, and there was a direct correlation of the co-expression of TOX and Eomes and terminally exhausted phenotype of virus-specific CD8+ T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nils H. Wildner
- I. Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Walker
- Institute of Virology, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Franziska Brauneck
- II. Department of Medicine, Center for Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Vanessa Ditt
- Department of Transfusion Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sven Peine
- Department of Transfusion Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Samuel Huber
- I. Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research Deutsches Zentrum für Infektionsforschung (DZIF), Partner Site Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Friedrich Haag
- Institute of Immunology, Center for Diagnostics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Claudia Beisel
- I. Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research Deutsches Zentrum für Infektionsforschung (DZIF), Partner Site Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Joerg Timm
- Institute of Virology, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Julian Schulze zur Wiesch
- I. Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research Deutsches Zentrum für Infektionsforschung (DZIF), Partner Site Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, Hamburg, Germany
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17
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Hlady RA, Zhao X, El Khoury LY, Luna A, Pham K, Wu Q, Lee JH, Pyrsopoulos NT, Liu C, Robertson KD. Interferon drives HCV scarring of the epigenome and creates targetable vulnerabilities following viral clearance. Hepatology 2022; 75:983-996. [PMID: 34387871 PMCID: PMC9416882 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Chronic HCV infection is a leading etiologic driver of cirrhosis and ultimately HCC. Of the approximately 71 million individuals chronically infected with HCV, 10%-20% are expected to develop severe liver complications in their lifetime. Epigenetic mechanisms including DNA methylation and histone modifications become profoundly disrupted in disease processes including liver disease. APPROACH AND RESULTS To understand how HCV infection influences the epigenome and whether these events remain as "scars" following cure of chronic HCV infection, we mapped genome-wide DNA methylation, four key regulatory histone modifications (H3K4me3, H3K4me1, H3K27ac, and H3K27me3), and open chromatin in parental and HCV-infected immortalized hepatocytes and the Huh7.5 HCC cell line, along with DNA methylation and gene-expression analyses following elimination of HCV in these models through treatment with interferon-α (IFN-α) or a direct-acting antiviral (DAA). Our data demonstrate that HCV infection profoundly affects the epigenome (particularly enhancers); HCV shares epigenetic targets with interferon-α targets; and an overwhelming majority of epigenetic changes induced by HCV remain as "scars" on the epigenome following viral cure. Similar findings are observed in primary human patient samples cured of chronic HCV infection. Supplementation of IFN-α/DAA antiviral regimens with DNA methyltransferase inhibitor 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine synergizes in reverting aberrant DNA methylation induced by HCV. Finally, both HCV-infected and cured cells displayed a blunted immune response, demonstrating a functional effect of epigenetic scarring. CONCLUSIONS Integration of epigenetic and transcriptional data elucidate key gene deregulation events driven by HCV infection and how this may underpin the long-term elevated risk for HCC in patients cured of HCV due to epigenome scarring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan A Hlady
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental TherapeuticsMayo ClinicRochesterMinnesotaUSA
| | - Xia Zhao
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental TherapeuticsMayo ClinicRochesterMinnesotaUSA
| | - Louis Y El Khoury
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental TherapeuticsMayo ClinicRochesterMinnesotaUSA
| | - Aesis Luna
- Department of PathologyYale School of MedicineNew HavenConnecticutUSA
| | - Kien Pham
- Department of PathologyYale School of MedicineNew HavenConnecticutUSA
| | - Qunfeng Wu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory MedicineNew Jersey Medical SchoolRutgersThe State University of New JerseyNewarkNew JerseyUSA
| | - Jeong-Heon Lee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyMayo ClinicRochesterMinnesotaUSA
| | | | - Chen Liu
- Department of PathologyYale School of MedicineNew HavenConnecticutUSA
| | - Keith D Robertson
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental TherapeuticsMayo ClinicRochesterMinnesotaUSA
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18
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Abstract
This review discusses peptide epitopes used as antigens in the development of vaccines in clinical trials as well as future vaccine candidates. It covers peptides used in potential immunotherapies for infectious diseases including SARS-CoV-2, influenza, hepatitis B and C, HIV, malaria, and others. In addition, peptides for cancer vaccines that target examples of overexpressed proteins are summarized, including human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2), mucin 1 (MUC1), folate receptor, and others. The uses of peptides to target cancers caused by infective agents, for example, cervical cancer caused by human papilloma virus (HPV), are also discussed. This review also provides an overview of model peptide epitopes used to stimulate non-specific immune responses, and of self-adjuvanting peptides, as well as the influence of other adjuvants on peptide formulations. As highlighted in this review, several peptide immunotherapies are in advanced clinical trials as vaccines, and there is great potential for future therapies due the specificity of the response that can be achieved using peptide epitopes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian W Hamley
- Department of Chemistry, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6AD, U.K
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19
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Torres-Vázquez B, María de Lucas A, García-Crespo C, Antonio García-Martín J, Fragoso A, Fernández-Algar M, Perales C, Domingo E, Moreno M, Briones C. In vitro selection of high affinity DNA and RNA aptamers that detect hepatitis C virus core protein of genotypes 1 to 4 and inhibit virus production in cell culture. J Mol Biol 2022; 434:167501. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2022.167501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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20
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Virus-Like Particles Containing the E2 Core Domain of Hepatitis C Virus Generate Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies in Guinea Pigs. J Virol 2022; 96:e0167521. [PMID: 34986001 PMCID: PMC8906423 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01675-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A vaccine to prevent hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is urgently needed for use alongside direct-acting antiviral drugs to achieve elimination targets. We have previously shown that a soluble recombinant form of the glycoprotein E2 ectodomain (residues 384 to 661) that lacks three variable regions (Δ123) is able to elicit a higher titer of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) than the parental form (receptor-binding domain [RBD]). In this study, we engineered a viral nanoparticle that displays HCV glycoprotein E2 on a duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) small surface antigen (S) scaffold. Four variants of E2-S virus-like particles (VLPs) were constructed: Δ123-S, RBD-S, Δ123A7-S, and RBDA7-S; in the last two, 7 cysteines were replaced with alanines. While all four E2-S variant VLPs display E2 as a surface antigen, the Δ123A7-S and RBDA7-S VLPs were the most efficiently secreted from transfected mammalian cells and displayed epitopes recognized by cross-genotype broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (bNMAbs). Both Δ123A7-S and RBDA7-S VLPs were immunogenic in guinea pigs, generating high titers of antibodies reactive to native E2 and able to prevent the interaction between E2 and the cellular receptor CD81. Four out of eight animals immunized with Δ123A7-S elicited neutralizing antibodies (NAbs), with three of those animals generating bNAbs against 7 genotypes. Immune serum generated by animals with NAbs mapped to major neutralization epitopes located at residues 412 to 420 (epitope I) and antigenic region 3. VLPs that display E2 glycoproteins represent a promising vaccine platform for HCV and could be adapted to large-scale manufacturing in yeast systems. IMPORTANCE There is currently no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C virus infection, which affects more than 71 million people globally and is a leading cause of progressive liver disease, including cirrhosis and cancer. Broadly neutralizing antibodies that recognize the E2 envelope glycoprotein can protect against heterologous viral infection and correlate with viral clearance in humans. However, broadly neutralizing antibodies are difficult to generate due to conformational flexibility of the E2 protein and epitope occlusion. Here, we show that a VLP vaccine using the duck hepatitis B virus S antigen fused to HCV glycoprotein E2 assembles into virus-like particles that display epitopes recognized by broadly neutralizing antibodies and elicit such antibodies in guinea pigs. This platform represents a novel HCV vaccine candidate amenable to large-scale manufacture at low cost.
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21
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Weigand K, Peschel G, Grimm J, Luu K, Schacherer D, Wiest R, Müller M, Schwarz H, Buechler C. Soluble CD137 is a novel serum marker of liver cirrhosis in patients with hepatitis C and alcohol-associated disease etiology. Eur J Immunol 2021; 52:633-645. [PMID: 34914098 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202149488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Defective T-cell functions play a role in the persistence of HCV infection. Activated T cells express CD137, which costimulates antivirus T-cell responses, and this activity is antagonized by soluble CD137 (sCD137). Here, we show that in sera of 81 patients with chronic HCV, sCD137 levels did not correlate with measures of viral infection, and did not decline after virus eradication using direct-acting antivirals. Thus, serum sCD137 was similar in patients infected with HCV and in uninfected controls. Of note, in HCV patients with liver cirrhosis and patients with mostly alcohol-associated liver cirrhosis, sCD137 was increased. A negative association of sCD137 and albumin existed in both cohorts. sCD137 concentrations were similar in hepatic and portal vein blood excluding the liver as the origin of higher levels. Recombinant sCD137 reduced Th1 and Th2 but not Th17 cell polarization in vitro, and accordingly lowered IFN-γ, TNF, and IL-13 in cell media. Serum sCD137 is associated with inflammatory states, and positively correlated with serum TNF in cirrhotic HCV patients following virus eradication. Our study argues against a role of sCD137 in HCV infection and suggests a function of sCD137 in liver cirrhosis, which yet has to be defined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kilian Weigand
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Georg Peschel
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Jonathan Grimm
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Khang Luu
- Department of Physiology and Immunology Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Doris Schacherer
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Reiner Wiest
- Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, University Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Martina Müller
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Herbert Schwarz
- Department of Physiology and Immunology Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Christa Buechler
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
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22
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Echeverría N, Comas V, Aldunate F, Perbolianachis P, Moreno P, Cristina J. In the era of rapid mRNA-based vaccines: Why is there no effective hepatitis C virus vaccine yet? World J Hepatol 2021; 13:1234-1268. [PMID: 34786164 PMCID: PMC8568586 DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v13.i10.1234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is responsible for no less than 71 million people chronically infected and is one of the most frequent indications for liver transplantation worldwide. Despite direct-acting antiviral therapies fuel optimism in controlling HCV infections, there are several obstacles regarding treatment accessibility and reinfection continues to remain a possibility. Indeed, the majority of new HCV infections in developed countries occur in people who inject drugs and are more plausible to get reinfected. To achieve global epidemic control of this virus the development of an effective prophylactic or therapeutic vaccine becomes a must. The coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic led to auspicious vaccine development against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus, which has renewed interest on fighting HCV epidemic with vaccination. The aim of this review is to highlight the current situation of HCV vaccine candidates designed to prevent and/or to reduce HCV infectious cases and their complications. We will emphasize on some of the crossroads encountered during vaccine development against this insidious virus, together with some key aspects of HCV immunology which have, so far, hampered the progress in this area. The main focus will be on nucleic acid-based as well as recombinant viral vector-based vaccine candidates as the most novel vaccine approaches, some of which have been recently and successfully employed for SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Finally, some ideas will be presented on which methods to explore for the design of live-attenuated vaccines against HCV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Echeverría
- Laboratorio de Virología Molecular, Centro de Investigaciones Nucleares, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
| | - Victoria Comas
- Departamento de Desarrollo Biotecnológico, Instituto de Higiene, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11600, Uruguay
| | - Fabián Aldunate
- Laboratorio de Virología Molecular, Centro de Investigaciones Nucleares, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
| | - Paula Perbolianachis
- Laboratorio de Virología Molecular, Centro de Investigaciones Nucleares, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
| | - Pilar Moreno
- Laboratorio de Virología Molecular, Centro de Investigaciones Nucleares, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
| | - Juan Cristina
- Laboratorio de Virología Molecular, Centro de Investigaciones Nucleares, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay.
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23
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Zoldan K, Ehrlich S, Killmer S, Wild K, Smits M, Russ M, Globig AM, Hofmann M, Thimme R, Boettler T. Th1-Biased Hepatitis C Virus-Specific Follicular T Helper-Like Cells Effectively Support B Cells After Antiviral Therapy. Front Immunol 2021; 12:742061. [PMID: 34659236 PMCID: PMC8514946 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.742061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Circulating Th1-biased follicular T helper (cTfh1) cells have been associated with antibody responses to viral infection and after vaccination but their B cell helper functionality is less understood. After viral elimination, Tfh1 cells are the dominant subset within circulating Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)-specific CD4 T cells, but their functional capacity is currently unknown. To address this important point, we established a clone-based system to evaluate CD4 T cell functionality in vitro to overcome experimental limitations associated with their low frequencies. Specifically, we analyzed the transcription factor expression, cytokine secretion and B cell help in co-culture assays of HCV- (n = 18) and influenza-specific CD4 T cell clones (n = 5) in comparison to Tfh (n = 26) and Th1 clones (n = 15) with unknown antigen-specificity derived from healthy donors (n = 4) or direct-acting antiviral (DAA)-treated patients (n = 5). The transcription factor expression and cytokine secretion patterns of HCV-specific CD4 T cell clones indicated a Tfh1 phenotype, with expression of T-bet and Bcl6 and production of IFN-γ and IL-21. Their B helper capacity was superior compared to influenza-specific or Tfh and Th1 clones. Moreover, since Tfh cells are enriched in the IFN-rich milieu of the HCV-infected liver, we investigated the impact of IFN exposure on Tfh phenotype and function. Type I IFN exposure was able to introduce similar phenotypic and functional characteristics in the Tfh cell population within PBMCs or Tfh clones in vitro in line with our finding that Tfh cells are elevated in HCV-infected patients shortly after initiation of IFN-α therapy. Collectively, we were able to functionally characterize HCV-specific CD4 T cells in vitro and not only confirmed a Tfh1 phenotype but observed superior Tfh functionality despite their Th1 bias. Furthermore, our results suggest that chronic type I IFN exposure supports the enrichment of highly functional HCV-specific Tfh-like cells during HCV infection. Thus, HCV-specific Tfh-like cells after DAA therapy may be a promising target for future vaccination design aiming to introduce a neutralizing antibody response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Zoldan
- Department of Medicine II, University Hospital Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Sabine Ehrlich
- Department of Medicine II, University Hospital Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Saskia Killmer
- Department of Medicine II, University Hospital Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Katharina Wild
- Department of Medicine II, University Hospital Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Maike Smits
- Department of Medicine II, University Hospital Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Marissa Russ
- Department of Medicine II, University Hospital Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Anna-Maria Globig
- Department of Medicine II, University Hospital Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Maike Hofmann
- Department of Medicine II, University Hospital Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Robert Thimme
- Department of Medicine II, University Hospital Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Tobias Boettler
- Department of Medicine II, University Hospital Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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24
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Llorens-Revull M, Costafreda MI, Rico A, Guerrero-Murillo M, Soria ME, Píriz-Ruzo S, Vargas-Accarino E, Gabriel-Medina P, Rodríguez-Frías F, Riveiro-Barciela M, Perales C, Quer J, Sauleda S, Esteban JI, Bes M. Partial restoration of immune response in Hepatitis C patients after viral clearance by direct-acting antiviral therapy. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0254243. [PMID: 34242330 PMCID: PMC8270431 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS HCV CD4+ and CD8+ specific T cells responses are functionally impaired during chronic hepatitis C infection. DAAs therapies eradicate HCV infection in more than 95% of treated patients. However, the impact of HCV elimination on immune responses remain controversial. Here, we aimed to investigate whether HCV cure by DAAs could reverse the impaired immune response to HCV. METHODS We analyzed 27 chronic HCV infected patients undergoing DAA treatment in tertiary care hospital, and we determined the phenotypical and functional changes in both HCV CD8+ and CD4+ specific T-cells before and after viral clearance. PD-1, TIM-3 and LAG-3 cell-surface expression was assessed by flow cytometry to determine CD4+ T cell exhaustion. Functional responses to HCV were analyzed by IFN-Ɣ ELISPOT, intracellular cytokine staining (IL-2 and IFN-Ɣ) and CFSE-based proliferation assays. RESULTS We observed a significant decrease in the expression of PD-1 in CD4+ T-cells after 12 weeks of viral clearance in non-cirrhotic patients (p = 0.033) and in treatment-naive patients (p = 0.010), indicating a partial CD4 phenotype restoration. IFN-Ɣ and IL-2 cytokines production by HCV-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells remained impaired upon HCV eradication. Finally, a significant increase of the proliferation capacity of both HCV CD4+ and CD8+ specific T-cells was observed after HCV elimination by DAAs therapies. CONCLUSIONS Our results show that in chronically infected patients HCV elimination by DAA treatment lead to partial reversion of CD4+ T cell exhaustion. Moreover, proliferative capacity of HCV-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells is recovered after DAA's therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meritxell Llorens-Revull
- Liver Diseases-Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, Liver Unit, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron (HUVH), Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Isabel Costafreda
- Liver Diseases-Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, Liver Unit, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron (HUVH), Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain
- Transfusion Safety Laboratory, Banc de Sang i Teixits (BST), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Angie Rico
- Liver Diseases-Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, Liver Unit, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron (HUVH), Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Transfusion Safety Laboratory, Banc de Sang i Teixits (BST), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mercedes Guerrero-Murillo
- Liver Diseases-Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, Liver Unit, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron (HUVH), Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Eugenia Soria
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa" (CSIC-UAM), Campus de Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, IIS-Fundación Jiménez Díaz, UAM, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sofía Píriz-Ruzo
- Liver Diseases-Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, Liver Unit, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron (HUVH), Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Elena Vargas-Accarino
- Liver Diseases-Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, Liver Unit, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron (HUVH), Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pablo Gabriel-Medina
- Liver Pathology Laboratory, Biochemistry and Microbiology Unit, Vall d’Hebron Hospital Universitari (HUVH), Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francisco Rodríguez-Frías
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain
- Liver Pathology Laboratory, Biochemistry and Microbiology Unit, Vall d’Hebron Hospital Universitari (HUVH), Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain
- Clinical Biochemistry Unit, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron (HUVH), Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mar Riveiro-Barciela
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Liver Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron (HUVH), Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Celia Perales
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa" (CSIC-UAM), Campus de Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, IIS-Fundación Jiménez Díaz, UAM, Madrid, Spain
| | - Josep Quer
- Liver Diseases-Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, Liver Unit, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron (HUVH), Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Silvia Sauleda
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Transfusion Safety Laboratory, Banc de Sang i Teixits (BST), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Juan Ignacio Esteban
- Liver Diseases-Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, Liver Unit, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron (HUVH), Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain
- Liver Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron (HUVH), Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Bes
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Transfusion Safety Laboratory, Banc de Sang i Teixits (BST), Barcelona, Spain
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25
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Optimal Maturation of the SIV-Specific CD8 + T Cell Response after Primary Infection Is Associated with Natural Control of SIV: ANRS SIC Study. Cell Rep 2021; 32:108174. [PMID: 32966788 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2019] [Revised: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Highly efficient CD8+ T cells are associated with natural HIV control, but it has remained unclear how these cells are generated and maintained. We have used a macaque model of spontaneous SIVmac251 control to monitor the development of efficient CD8+ T cell responses. Our results show that SIV-specific CD8+ T cells emerge during primary infection in all animals. The ability of CD8+ T cells to suppress SIV is suboptimal in the acute phase but increases progressively in controller macaques before the establishment of sustained low-level viremia. Controller macaques develop optimal memory-like SIV-specific CD8+ T cells early after infection. In contrast, a persistently skewed differentiation phenotype characterizes memory SIV-specific CD8+ T cells in non-controller macaques. Accordingly, the phenotype of SIV-specific CD8+ T cells defined early after infection appears to favor the development of protective immunity in controllers, whereas SIV-specific CD8+ T cells in non-controllers fail to gain antiviral potency, feasibly as a consequence of early defects imprinted in the memory pool.
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26
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Rees-Spear C, McCoy LE. Vaccine responses in ageing and chronic viral infection. OXFORD OPEN IMMUNOLOGY 2021; 2:iqab007. [PMID: 36845567 PMCID: PMC9914503 DOI: 10.1093/oxfimm/iqab007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the last few decades, changing population demographics have shown that there are a growing number of individuals living past the age of 60. With this expanding older population comes an increase in individuals that are more susceptible to chronic illness and disease. An important part of maintaining health in this population is through prophylactic vaccination, however, there is growing evidence that vaccines may be less effective in the elderly. Furthermore, with the success of anti-viral therapies, chronic infections such as HIV are becoming increasingly prevalent in older populations and present a relatively unstudied population with respect to the efficacy of vaccination. Here we will examine the evidence for age-associated reduction in antibody and cellular responsiveness to a variety of common vaccines and investigate the underlying causes attributed to this phenomenon, such as inflammation and senescence. We will also discuss the impact of chronic viral infections on immune responses in both young and elderly patients, particularly those living with HIV, and how this affects vaccinations in these populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloe Rees-Spear
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, UK
| | - Laura E McCoy
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, UK,Correspondence address. Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, UK. E-mail:
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27
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Schank M, Zhao J, Wang L, Nguyen LNT, Cao D, Dang X, Khanal S, Zhang J, Zhang Y, Wu XY, Ning S, Gazzar ME, Moorman JP, Yao ZQ. Oxidative Stress Induces Mitochondrial Compromise in CD4 T Cells From Chronically HCV-Infected Individuals. Front Immunol 2021; 12:760707. [PMID: 34956192 PMCID: PMC8692574 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.760707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We have previously shown that chronic Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection can induce DNA damage and immune dysfunctions with excessive oxidative stress in T cells. Furthermore, evidence suggests that HCV contributes to increased susceptibility to metabolic disorders. However, the underlying mechanisms by which HCV infection impairs cellular metabolism in CD4 T cells remain unclear. In this study, we evaluated mitochondrial mass and intracellular and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by flow cytometry, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content by real-time qPCR, cellular respiration by seahorse analyzer, and dysregulated mitochondrial-localized proteins by Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) in CD4 T cells from chronic HCV-infected individuals and health subjects. Mitochondrial mass was decreased while intracellular and mitochondrial ROS were increased, expressions of master mitochondrial regulators peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor 1 alpha (PGC-1α) and mitochondrial transcription factor A (mtTFA) were down-regulated, and oxidative stress was increased while mitochondrial DNA copy numbers were reduced. Importantly, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockdown of mtTFA impaired cellular respiration and reduced mtDNA copy number. Furthermore, proteins responsible for mediating oxidative stress, apoptosis, and mtDNA maintenance were significantly altered in HCV-CD4 T cells. These results indicate that mitochondrial functions are compromised in HCV-CD4 T cells, likely via the deregulation of several mitochondrial regulatory proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madison Schank
- Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease and Immunity, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United States.,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious, Inflammatory and Immunologic Diseases, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University (ETSU), Johnson City, TN, United States
| | - Juan Zhao
- Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease and Immunity, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United States.,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious, Inflammatory and Immunologic Diseases, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University (ETSU), Johnson City, TN, United States
| | - Ling Wang
- Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease and Immunity, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United States.,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious, Inflammatory and Immunologic Diseases, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University (ETSU), Johnson City, TN, United States
| | - Lam Ngoc Thao Nguyen
- Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease and Immunity, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United States.,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious, Inflammatory and Immunologic Diseases, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University (ETSU), Johnson City, TN, United States
| | - Dechao Cao
- Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease and Immunity, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United States.,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious, Inflammatory and Immunologic Diseases, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University (ETSU), Johnson City, TN, United States
| | - Xindi Dang
- Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease and Immunity, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United States.,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious, Inflammatory and Immunologic Diseases, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University (ETSU), Johnson City, TN, United States
| | - Sushant Khanal
- Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease and Immunity, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United States.,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious, Inflammatory and Immunologic Diseases, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University (ETSU), Johnson City, TN, United States
| | - Jinyu Zhang
- Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease and Immunity, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United States.,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious, Inflammatory and Immunologic Diseases, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University (ETSU), Johnson City, TN, United States
| | - Yi Zhang
- Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease and Immunity, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United States.,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious, Inflammatory and Immunologic Diseases, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University (ETSU), Johnson City, TN, United States
| | - Xiao Y Wu
- Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease and Immunity, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United States.,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious, Inflammatory and Immunologic Diseases, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University (ETSU), Johnson City, TN, United States
| | - Shunbin Ning
- Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease and Immunity, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United States.,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious, Inflammatory and Immunologic Diseases, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University (ETSU), Johnson City, TN, United States
| | - Mohamed El Gazzar
- Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease and Immunity, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United States.,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious, Inflammatory and Immunologic Diseases, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University (ETSU), Johnson City, TN, United States
| | - Jonathan P Moorman
- Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease and Immunity, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United States.,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious, Inflammatory and Immunologic Diseases, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University (ETSU), Johnson City, TN, United States.,Hepatitis (HCV/HBV/HIV) Program, James H. Quillen VA Medical Center, Department of Veterans Affairs, Johnson City, TN, United States
| | - Zhi Q Yao
- Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease and Immunity, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United States.,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious, Inflammatory and Immunologic Diseases, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University (ETSU), Johnson City, TN, United States.,Hepatitis (HCV/HBV/HIV) Program, James H. Quillen VA Medical Center, Department of Veterans Affairs, Johnson City, TN, United States
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28
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Thimme R. T cell immunity to hepatitis C virus: Lessons for a prophylactic vaccine. J Hepatol 2021; 74:220-229. [PMID: 33002569 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2020.09.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
There is consensus that HCV-specific T cells play a central role in the outcome (clearance vs. persistence) of acute infection and that they contribute to protection against the establishment of persistence after reinfection. However, these T cells often fail and the virus can persist, largely as a result of T cell exhaustion and the emergence of viral escape mutations. Importantly, HCV cure by direct-acting antivirals does not lead to a complete reversion of T cell exhaustion and thus HCV reinfections can occur. The current lack of detailed knowledge about the immunological determinants of viral clearance, persistence and protective immunity is a major roadblock to the development of a prophylactic T cell vaccine. This minireview highlights the basic concepts of successful T cell immunity, major mechanisms of T cell failure and how our understanding of these concepts can be translated into a prophylactic vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Thimme
- Department of Medicine II, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology and Infectious Diseases, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, Germany.
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29
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Smith S, Honegger JR, Walker C. T-Cell Immunity against the Hepatitis C Virus: A Persistent Research Priority in an Era of Highly Effective Therapy. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2021; 11:cshperspect.a036954. [PMID: 32205413 PMCID: PMC7778213 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a036954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Approximately 70% of acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections become chronic, indicating that the virus is exceptionally well adapted to persist in humans with otherwise normal immune function. Robust, lifelong replication of this small RNA virus does not require a generalized failure of immunity. HCV effectively subverts innate and adaptive host defenses while leaving immunity against other viruses intact. Here, the role of CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses in control of HCV infection and their failure to prevent virus persistence in most individuals are reviewed. Two issues of practical importance remain priorities in an era of highly effective antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis C. First, the characteristics of successful T-cell responses that promote resolution of HCV infection are considered, as they will underpin development of vaccines that prevent HCV persistence. Second, defects in T-cell immunity that facilitate HCV persistence and whether they are reversed after antiviral cure to provide protection from reinfection are also addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Smith
- The Center for Vaccines and Immunity, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's, Columbus, Ohio 43205, USA,Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43004, USA
| | - Jonathan R. Honegger
- The Center for Vaccines and Immunity, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's, Columbus, Ohio 43205, USA,Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43004, USA
| | - Christopher Walker
- The Center for Vaccines and Immunity, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's, Columbus, Ohio 43205, USA,Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43004, USA
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30
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Methanolic Extract of Teucrium Polium Exerts Immunomodulatory Properties in Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells. SERBIAN JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL AND CLINICAL RESEARCH 2020. [DOI: 10.2478/sjecr-2020-0018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Teucrium polium has been used in traditional medicine around the world for centuries in treatment of various conditions and diseases. Many studies have confirmed pharmacological effects of its extracts, although the immunomodulatory effect has not been investigated. Therefore, the aim of our study was to examine the immunomodulatory effect of methanolic extract of T. polium (TPE) on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) derived from healthy donors and patients with HCV infection. We analyzed the effect of the extract on PBMCs viability using the MTT test. The cell death type was determined using Annexin V-FITC/7-AAD staining. Immunophenotyping using anti-CD8 FITC, anti-CD4 PE, anti-CD3 ECD, anti-CD20 PC5, anti-CD14 FITC and anti-CD25 PC7 was performed by flow cytometry. Results of the MTT test indicate that TPE stimulates proliferation of healthy PBMCs, while the HCV PBMCs viability was slightly reduced.
The percentage of apoptotic HCV PBMCs was higher after TPE treatment compared to the control. The proportion of CD25-expressing cells was higher among the untreated HCV PBMCs than in the untreated healthy PBMCs. TPE treatment significantly and gradually increased CD25 expression in healthy PBMCs, whereas CD25 expression on HCV PBMCs increased only at the highest TPE concentration. The upregulation of double-positive CD3+CD25+, CD20+CD25+ and CD14+CD25+ cells was significant in TPE treated healthy PBMCs, while only the highest concentration was effective on HCV PBMCs. In summary, TPE exerts a strong immunomodulatory effect on healthy PBMCs and, only at the highest concentration, on HCV PBMNCs.
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Perpiñán E, Pérez-Del-Pulgar S, Londoño MC, Mariño Z, Lens S, Leonel T, Bartres C, García-López M, Rodriguez-Tajes S, Forns X, Koutsoudakis G. Chronic genotype 1 hepatitis C along with cirrhosis drives a persistent imprint in virus-specific CD8 + T cells after direct-acting antiviral therapies. J Viral Hepat 2020; 27:1408-1418. [PMID: 32812325 DOI: 10.1111/jvh.13370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Revised: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection impairs HCV CD8+ T-cell responses, while it could influence immune responses towards unrelated viruses/vaccines (e.g. cytomegalovirus, CMV, and influenza, Flu). The aim of our study was to delineate whether restoration of these virus-specific CD8+ T cells occurs after direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapies and particularly in patients with cirrhosis. We performed longitudinal analysis (baseline, week 4, follow-up [FU] 12 and FU48) of virus-specific CD8+ T cells by multicolour flow cytometry in HCV-cirrhotic patients undergoing DAA therapy (n = 26) after in vitro expansion with immunodominant HCV, CMV and Flu epitopes restricted by HLA-A*02. HCV noncirrhotic patients (n = 9) and healthy individuals (n = 10) served as controls. We found that the proliferative capacity of HCV-specific CD8+ T cells increased from baseline up to FU48 in a significant proportion of cirrhotic and noncirrhotic patients. Nevertheless, these cells remained poor cytokine producers in both patient groups, regardless of the down-regulation of inhibitory co-regulatory receptors in HCV-cirrhotic patients at FU48. Likewise, high expression levels of these exhaustion markers were detected in CMV-/Flu-specific CD8+ T cells in HCV-cirrhotic patients at all time points, albeit without affecting their proliferative capacity or cytokine production. We conclude that DAA therapies induce restoration of the proliferative capacity of HCV-specific CD8+ T cells. However, these cells remain phenotypically and functionally impaired. Contrarily, the 'exhausted' phenotype in CMV-/Flu-specific CD8+ T cells in HCV-cirrhotic patients did not associate with their functions. Larger studier with longer follow-up may elucidate whether this complex interplay influences the outcome of cirrhotic patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Perpiñán
- Liver Unit, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, CIBERehd, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sofía Pérez-Del-Pulgar
- Liver Unit, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, CIBERehd, Barcelona, Spain
| | - María-Carlota Londoño
- Liver Unit, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, CIBERehd, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Zoe Mariño
- Liver Unit, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, CIBERehd, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sabela Lens
- Liver Unit, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, CIBERehd, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Thais Leonel
- Liver Unit, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, CIBERehd, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Concepción Bartres
- Liver Unit, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, CIBERehd, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mireia García-López
- Liver Unit, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, CIBERehd, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sergio Rodriguez-Tajes
- Liver Unit, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, CIBERehd, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xavier Forns
- Liver Unit, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, CIBERehd, Barcelona, Spain
| | - George Koutsoudakis
- Liver Unit, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, CIBERehd, Barcelona, Spain
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Khanam A, Kottilil S, Wilson E. Reconstitution of T follicular helper-humoral immune axis with elimination of hepatitis C virus. Sci Rep 2020; 10:19924. [PMID: 33199783 PMCID: PMC7669852 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-77020-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Exhaustion of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)-specific T cells and abnormal B cell function is a hallmark of chronic HCV infection. Direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapies are effective in achieving sustained virologic response (SVR), however, whether successful DAA treatment reconstitute T follicular helper (TFH)-B cell axis in HCV patients is unclear. Here, we aimed to evaluate the immunological changes in global and HCV-specific CD4 + CXCR5 + TFH, CD4 + CXCR5-T and B cells in 20 HCV patients who achieved SVR with Sofosbuvir and Ledipasvir for 12 weeks and compared with 15 healthy controls (HC). Global and HCV-specific CD4 + CXCR5 + TFH, CD4 + CXCR5-T and CD19 + B cells had significant phenotypic and functional reconstitution post DAA therapy. Reconstitution of effector, central and terminally differentiated memory cell population and increased ICOS and BCL6 expression was seen in HCV patients at SVR12. HCV-specific cytokines were also improved post DAA. Exhausted and regulatory B cells were declined whereas memory B cells were expanded post DAA therapy. Importantly, frequencies of TFH cells were significantly associated with HCV RNA reduction, expansion of memory B and plasmablasts, while negatively associated with exhausted/regulatory B cells. Our results demonstrate that SVR with DAA therapy is effective in the reconstitution of phenotypic and functional abnormalities of TFH-B cell axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arshi Khanam
- Division of Clinical Care and Research, Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland, School of Medicine, 725 West Lombard Street, S218, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Shyamasundaran Kottilil
- Division of Clinical Care and Research, Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland, School of Medicine, 725 West Lombard Street, S218, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Eleanor Wilson
- Division of Clinical Care and Research, Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland, School of Medicine, 725 West Lombard Street, S218, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
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Abstract
Recently, immune checkpoint inhibitors (iCIs) have been used to treat cancers. Once some of the iCIs for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are certified in clinical trials, they are likely be administered to HCC patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV). However, the immunopathogenesis of HCV after the administration of iCIs has not been clarified. We experienced a lung cancer patient with HCV infection treated by nivolumab, programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) antibody. HCV-RNA gradually decreased after the start of nivolumab treatment. However, no increase in transaminase was observed during the decline of HCV-RNA. It was thought that HCV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) were activated by iCIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryo Fukuda
- Department of Hepatology, Sendai Kousei Hospital, Japan
- Treatment Center for Liver Cancer, Sendai Kousei Hospital, Japan
| | | | - Yasuteru Kondo
- Department of Hepatology, Sendai Kousei Hospital, Japan
- Treatment Center for Liver Cancer, Sendai Kousei Hospital, Japan
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Optimized Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) E2 Glycoproteins and their Immunogenicity in Combination with MVA-HCV. Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:vaccines8030440. [PMID: 32764419 PMCID: PMC7563715 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8030440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) represents a major global health challenge and an efficient vaccine is urgently needed. Many HCV vaccination strategies employ recombinant versions of the viral E2 glycoprotein. However, recombinant E2 readily forms disulfide-bonded aggregates that might not be optimally suited for vaccines. Therefore, we have designed an E2 protein in which we strategically changed eight cysteines to alanines (E2.C8A). E2.C8A formed predominantly monomers and virtually no aggregates. Furthermore, E2.C8A also interacted more efficiently with broadly neutralizing antibodies than conventional E2. We used mice to evaluate different prime/boost immunization strategies involving a modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) expressing the nearly full-length genome of HCV (MVA-HCV) in combination with either the E2 aggregates or the E2.C8A monomers. The combined MVA-HCV/E2 aggregates prime/boost strategy markedly enhanced HCV-specific effector memory CD4+ T cell responses and antibody levels compared to MVA-HCV/MVA-HCV. Moreover, the aggregated form of E2 induced higher levels of anti-E2 antibodies in vaccinated mice than E2.C8A monomers. These antibodies were cross-reactive and mainly of the IgG1 isotype. Our findings revealed how two E2 viral proteins that differ in their capacity to form aggregates are able to enhance to different extent the HCV-specific cellular and humoral immune responses, either alone or in combination with MVA-HCV. These combined protocols of MVA-HCV/E2 could serve as a basis for the development of a more effective HCV vaccine.
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Osuch S, Metzner KJ, Caraballo Cortés K. Reversal of T Cell Exhaustion in Chronic HCV Infection. Viruses 2020; 12:v12080799. [PMID: 32722372 PMCID: PMC7472290 DOI: 10.3390/v12080799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The long-term consequences of T cell responses’ impairment in chronic HCV infection are not entirely characterized, although they may be essential in the context of the clinical course of infection, re-infection, treatment-mediated viral clearance and vaccine design. Furthermore, it is unclear whether a complete reinvigoration of HCV-specific T cell response may be feasible. In most studies, attempting to reverse the effects of compromised immune response quality by specific blockades of negative immune regulators, a restoration of functional competence of HCV-specific T cells was shown. This implies that HCV-induced immune dysfunction may be reversible. The advent of highly successful, direct-acting antiviral treatment (DAA) for chronic HCV infection instigated investigation whether the treatment-driven elimination of viral antigens restores T cell function. Most of studies demonstrated that DAA treatment may result in at least partial restoration of T cell immune function. They also suggest that a complete restoration comparable to that seen after spontaneous viral clearance may not be attained, pointing out that long-term antigenic stimulation imprints an irreversible change on the T cell compartment. Understanding the mechanisms of HCV-induced immune dysfunction and barriers to immune restoration following viral clearance is of utmost importance to diminish the possible long-term consequences of chronic HCV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylwia Osuch
- Department of Immunopathology of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Karin J. Metzner
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, CH-8091 Zurich, Switzerland;
- Institute of Medical Virology, University of Zurich, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Kamila Caraballo Cortés
- Department of Immunopathology of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-22-572-07-09; Fax: +48-22-883-10-60
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Yeh ML, Huang CF, Huang CI, Holmes JA, Hsieh MH, Tsai YS, Liang PC, Tsai PC, Hsieh MY, Lin ZY, Chen SC, Huang JF, Dai CY, Chuang WL, Chung RT, Yu ML. Hepatitis B-related outcomes following direct-acting antiviral therapy in Taiwanese patients with chronic HBV/HCV co-infection. J Hepatol 2020; 73:62-71. [PMID: 32061869 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2020.01.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2019] [Revised: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS The outcome of HBV infection, including the dynamics of HBsAg and HBV virological reactivation, among patients coinfected with HCV receiving direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) remains unclear. Thus, we aimed to analyze HBV-related outcomes in these patients. METHODS Serial HBsAg and HBV DNA levels were measured in 79 HBV/HCV-coinfected patients receiving DAAs (13 receiving anti-HBV nucleot(s)ide analog [NUC] therapy simultaneously). The endpoints included HBsAg dynamics and seroclearance, HBV reactivation (HBV DNA >1 log increase or >100 IU/ml if undetectable at baseline) and HBV-related clinical reactivation. RESULTS HBsAg levels declined from a median of 73.3 IU/ml at baseline to 16.2 IU/ml at the end-of-DAA treatment and increased to 94.1 IU/ml at 12 months post-treatment. During a mean 11.1-months of follow-up, 8 (10.1%) patients experienced HBsAg seroclearance and 30 (38.0%) HBV reactivation (12-month cumulative incidence, 10.3% and 40.4%, respectively). Patients with pre-treatment HBsAg ≤10 IU/ml had a significantly higher rate of HBsAg seroclearance (hazard ratio [HR] 8.52; 95% CI 1.048-69.312) and lower risk of HBV reactivation than those with pre-treatment HBsAg >10 IU/ml (HR 2.88; 95% CI 1.057-7.844) in multivariate analyses. Six patients (4 cirrhotics) not receiving NUC therapy experienced HBV-related clinical reactivation; 3 of the 4 cirrhotics developed liver failure and 2 died despite immediate NUC therapy. Compared to untreated HBV-monoinfected patients, HBV/HCV-coinfected patients without NUC prophylaxis had a similar rate of HBsAg seroclearance, but a significantly higher risk of HBV reactivation following DAA therapy (HR 6.59; 95% CI 2.488-17.432). CONCLUSIONS DAA-treated HBV/HCV-coinfected patients had significantly higher rates of HBV seroclearance, particularly among those with low pre-treatment HBsAg titer, but were at higher risk of HBV reactivation, particularly among those with higher pre-treatment HBsAg titer. Prophylactic anti-HBV therapy is essential for cirrhotic patients, irrespective of baseline HBV DNA levels. LAY SUMMARY We studied outcomes relating to hepatitis B virus (HBV) in patients coinfected with both hepatitis B and C. Patients receiving direct-acting antiviral treatment for hepatitis C were more likely to experience seroclearance (or functional cure of HBV), but were also more likely to experience HBV reactivation, which can lead to hepatitis, liver failure and death. In coinfected cirrhotic patients being treated for HCV, prophylactic treatment for HBV is mandatory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Lun Yeh
- Hepatitis Center and Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; School of Medicine and Hepatitis Research Center, College of Medicine Center for Cancer Research and Center for Liquid Biopsy, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Feng Huang
- Hepatitis Center and Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; School of Medicine and Hepatitis Research Center, College of Medicine Center for Cancer Research and Center for Liquid Biopsy, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Ching-I Huang
- Hepatitis Center and Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; School of Medicine and Hepatitis Research Center, College of Medicine Center for Cancer Research and Center for Liquid Biopsy, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Jacinta A Holmes
- Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent's Hospital, University of Melbourne, Fitzroy, Australia
| | - Meng-Hsuan Hsieh
- Hepatitis Center and Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; School of Medicine and Hepatitis Research Center, College of Medicine Center for Cancer Research and Center for Liquid Biopsy, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Health Management Center, and Department of Community Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Shan Tsai
- Hepatitis Center and Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Po-Cheng Liang
- Hepatitis Center and Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Chien Tsai
- Hepatitis Center and Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Yen Hsieh
- Hepatitis Center and Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Zu-Yau Lin
- Hepatitis Center and Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; School of Medicine and Hepatitis Research Center, College of Medicine Center for Cancer Research and Center for Liquid Biopsy, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Shinn-Cherng Chen
- Hepatitis Center and Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; School of Medicine and Hepatitis Research Center, College of Medicine Center for Cancer Research and Center for Liquid Biopsy, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Jee-Fu Huang
- Hepatitis Center and Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; School of Medicine and Hepatitis Research Center, College of Medicine Center for Cancer Research and Center for Liquid Biopsy, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Yen Dai
- Hepatitis Center and Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; School of Medicine and Hepatitis Research Center, College of Medicine Center for Cancer Research and Center for Liquid Biopsy, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Health Management Center, and Department of Community Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Wan-Long Chuang
- Hepatitis Center and Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; School of Medicine and Hepatitis Research Center, College of Medicine Center for Cancer Research and Center for Liquid Biopsy, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Raymond T Chung
- Liver Center, Gastrointestinal Division, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ming-Lung Yu
- Hepatitis Center and Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; School of Medicine and Hepatitis Research Center, College of Medicine Center for Cancer Research and Center for Liquid Biopsy, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Center for Intelligent Drug Systems and Smart Bio-devices (IDS(2)B) and Department of Biological Science and Technology, College of Biological Science and Technology, National Chiao Tung University, Hsin-Chu, Taiwan; Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
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Han JW, Sung PS, Kim KH, Hong SH, Shin EC, Jun Song M, Park SH. Dynamic Changes in Ex Vivo T-Cell Function After Viral Clearance in Chronic HCV Infection. J Infect Dis 2020; 220:1290-1301. [PMID: 31152667 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiz291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2019] [Accepted: 05/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Direct-acting antiviral (DAA) agents can successfully treat chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However, the ex vivo HCV-specific T-cell function following viral clearance remains unknown. METHODS We investigated functional alterations and phenotypic changes in ex vivo HCV-specific CD8+ T cells with a longitudinal analysis of 41 patients with chronic HCV infection who were undergoing DAA treatment. RESULTS A patient subset exhibited a significantly increased T-cell response (mainly CD8+ T cells) at week 4 of treatment. However, this increased T-cell response diminished in later weeks. Relative to pretreatment levels, the ex vivo HCV-specific CD8+ T-cell frequency decreased at 12 weeks after the end of treatment, along with a decreased antigen-experienced CD8+ T-cell population. DAA treatment increased the proliferative capacity of HCV-specific CD8+ T cells, but this change was not correlated with ex vivo function. Patients experiencing viral breakthrough or relapse exhibited defective restoration of T-cell function. CONCLUSION Our present results indicated that DAA-mediated viral clearance only transiently restored ex vivo T-cell function, suggesting a need to enhance T-cell function in DAA-treated patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Won Han
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Pil Soo Sung
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.,The Catholic University Liver Research Center, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.,Division of Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung Hwan Kim
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Seon-Hui Hong
- Biomedical Science and Engineering Interdisciplinary Program, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Eui-Cheol Shin
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.,Biomedical Science and Engineering Interdisciplinary Program, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Myeong Jun Song
- The Catholic University Liver Research Center, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.,Division of Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.,Daejeon St Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Su-Hyung Park
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.,Biomedical Science and Engineering Interdisciplinary Program, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
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38
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Goto K, Roca Suarez AA, Wrensch F, Baumert TF, Lupberger J. Hepatitis C Virus and Hepatocellular Carcinoma: When the Host Loses Its Grip. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21093057. [PMID: 32357520 PMCID: PMC7246584 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21093057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Revised: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Novel treatments with direct-acting antivirals achieve high rates of sustained virologic response; however, the HCC risk remains elevated in cured patients, especially those with advanced liver disease. Long-term HCV infection causes a persistent and accumulating damage of the liver due to a combination of direct and indirect pro-oncogenic mechanisms. This review describes the processes involved in virus-induced disease progression by viral proteins, derailed signaling, immunity, and persistent epigenetic deregulation, which may be instrumental to develop urgently needed prognostic biomarkers and as targets for novel chemopreventive therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaku Goto
- Université de Strasbourg, F-67000 Strasbourg, France
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U1110, Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques, Université de Strasbourg (IVH), F-67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Armando Andres Roca Suarez
- Université de Strasbourg, F-67000 Strasbourg, France
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U1110, Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques, Université de Strasbourg (IVH), F-67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Florian Wrensch
- Université de Strasbourg, F-67000 Strasbourg, France
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U1110, Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques, Université de Strasbourg (IVH), F-67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Thomas F. Baumert
- Université de Strasbourg, F-67000 Strasbourg, France
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U1110, Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques, Université de Strasbourg (IVH), F-67000 Strasbourg, France
- Pôle Hépato-digestif, Institut Hopitalo-Universitaire, F-67000 Strasbourg, France
- Institut Universitaire de France, F-75231 Paris, France
- Correspondence: (T.F.B.); (J.L.); Tel.: +33-3-68-85-37-03 (T.F.B. & J.L.); Fax: +33-3-68-85-37-24 (T.F.B. & J.L.)
| | - Joachim Lupberger
- Université de Strasbourg, F-67000 Strasbourg, France
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U1110, Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques, Université de Strasbourg (IVH), F-67000 Strasbourg, France
- Correspondence: (T.F.B.); (J.L.); Tel.: +33-3-68-85-37-03 (T.F.B. & J.L.); Fax: +33-3-68-85-37-24 (T.F.B. & J.L.)
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Abstract
Vaccines have had a profound impact on the management and prevention of infectious disease. In addition, the development of vaccines against chronic diseases has attracted considerable interest as an approach to prevent, rather than treat, conditions such as cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and others. Subunit vaccines consist of nongenetic components of the infectious agent or disease-related epitope. In this Review, we discuss peptide-based vaccines and their potential in three therapeutic areas: infectious disease, Alzheimer's disease, and cancer. We discuss factors that contribute to vaccine efficacy and how these parameters may potentially be modulated by design. We examine both clinically tested vaccines as well as nascent approaches and explore current challenges and potential remedies. While peptide vaccines hold substantial promise in the prevention of human disease, many obstacles remain that have hampered their clinical use; thus, continued research efforts to address these challenges are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan J. Malonis
- Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Michael F. Price Center for Translational Research, 1301 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY 10461
| | - Jonathan R. Lai
- Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Michael F. Price Center for Translational Research, 1301 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY 10461
| | - Olivia Vergnolle
- Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Michael F. Price Center for Translational Research, 1301 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY 10461
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Abouelasrar Salama S, Lavie M, De Buck M, Van Damme J, Struyf S. Cytokines and serum amyloid A in the pathogenesis of hepatitis C virus infection. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 2019; 50:29-42. [PMID: 31718982 DOI: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2019.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Revised: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Expression of the acute phase protein serum amyloid A (SAA) is dependent on the release of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α during infection and inflammation. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) upregulates SAA-inducing cytokines. In line with this, a segment of chronically infected individuals display increased circulating levels of SAA. SAA has even been proposed to be a potential biomarker to evaluate treatment efficiency and the course of disease. SAA possesses antiviral activity against HCV via direct interaction with the viral particle, but might also divert infectivity through its function as an apolipoprotein. On the other hand, SAA shares inflammatory and angiogenic activity with chemotactic cytokines by activating the G protein-coupled receptor, formyl peptide receptor 2. These latter properties might promote chronic inflammation and hepatic injury. Indeed, up to 80 % of infected individuals develop chronic disease because they cannot completely clear the infection, due to diversion of the immune response. In this review, we summarize the interconnection between SAA and cytokines in the context of HCV infection and highlight the dual role SAA could play in this disease. Nevertheless, more research is needed to establish whether the balance between those opposing activities can be tilted in favor of the host defense.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Abouelasrar Salama
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, University of Leuven, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
| | - Muriel Lavie
- University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019, UMR 8204, Centre d'Infection et d'Immunité de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Mieke De Buck
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, University of Leuven, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
| | - Jo Van Damme
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, University of Leuven, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
| | - Sofie Struyf
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, University of Leuven, Leuven, 3000, Belgium.
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Wolski D, Lauer GM. Hepatitis C Virus as a Unique Human Model Disease to Define Differences in the Transcriptional Landscape of T Cells in Acute versus Chronic Infection. Viruses 2019; 11:v11080683. [PMID: 31357397 PMCID: PMC6723887 DOI: 10.3390/v11080683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2019] [Revised: 07/21/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The hepatitis C virus is unique among chronic viral infections in that an acute outcome with complete viral elimination is observed in a minority of infected patients. This unique feature allows direct comparison of successful immune responses with those that fail in the setting of the same human infection. Here we review how this scenario can be used to achieve better understanding of transcriptional regulation of T-cell differentiation. Specifically, we discuss results from a study comparing transcriptional profiles of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-specific CD8 T-cells during early HCV infection between patients that do and do not control and eliminate HCV. Identification of early gene expression differences in key T-cell differentiation molecules as well as clearly distinct transcriptional networks related to cell metabolism and nucleosomal regulation reveal novel insights into the development of exhausted and memory T-cells. With additional transcriptional studies of HCV-specific CD4 and CD8 T-cells in different stages of infection currently underway, we expect HCV infection to become a valuable model disease to study human immunity to viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Wolski
- Liver Center at the Gastrointestinal Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Georg M Lauer
- Liver Center at the Gastrointestinal Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
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Addressing the Challenges of Hepatitis C Cure and Persistent Risk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Viruses 2019; 11:v11050441. [PMID: 31096600 PMCID: PMC6563310 DOI: 10.3390/v11050441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major cause of liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)-the second leading, and rising, cause of death due to cancer world-wide [...].
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