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Effects of mutation number in interferon sensitivity determining region on peripheral blood CD4+ T cell subsets (Th1, Th2) in chronic hepatitis C patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 1b and high viral load

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Abstract

Background/aim

The number of amino acid (AA) mutations in the interferon sensitivity determining region (ISDR) of NS5A is reported to affect the response to interferon (IFN) therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). The aim of this study was to clarify whether host immunity is influenced by the number of AA mutations in the ISDR.

Patients and methods

Subjects included 44 patients with CHC infected with genotype 1b and high viral load. The number of AA mutations in the ISDR was retrospectively determined using stored serum samples taken immediately before starting therapy. All patients received IFN-alpha 2b or pegylated-IFN (PEG-IFN)-alpha 2b and ribavirin. When serum hepatitis C virus-ribonucleic acid (HCV-RNA) was negative at 4 or 12 weeks after starting therapy, the patient was defined as having rapid viral response (RVR) or early viral response (EVR), respectively. CD4+ T cell (Th1 or Th2) in peripheral blood (PB) before and until day 56 of treatment was analyzed.

Results

Rates of RVR and EVR were 0 (0/21) and 14% (3/21), respectively, in patients with one or fewer AA mutations in the ISDR (ISDR0-1), and 30 (7/23), and 74% (17/23), respectively, with two or more AA mutations in the ISDR (ISDR > 2). Although the percentage of PB Th1 cells did not differ between the two groups during the study period, the percentage of PB Th2 cells was significantly lower in the ISDR0-1 group than in the ISDR > 2 group at baseline and on days 3, 7, 14, and 28 of treatment.

Conclusion

The number of AA mutations in the ISDR influenced PB Th2 cells before and until day 28, and was associated with higher RVR and EVR rates.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Toho University School of Medicine, 6-11-1, Omorinishi, Otaku, Tokyo, 143-8541, Japan

    Koji Ishii, Mie Shinohara, Michio Kogame, Misato Shiratori, Katsuya Higami, Kaori Kanayama, Kazue Shiozawa, Noritaka Wakui, Hidenari Nagai, Manabu Watanabe & Yasukiyo Sumino

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  1. Koji Ishii
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  2. Mie Shinohara
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Correspondence to Koji Ishii.

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Ishii, K., Shinohara, M., Kogame, M. et al. Effects of mutation number in interferon sensitivity determining region on peripheral blood CD4+ T cell subsets (Th1, Th2) in chronic hepatitis C patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 1b and high viral load. Hepatol Int 6, 468–474 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12072-011-9305-8

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