Abstract
As the host's immune responses may determine the outcome of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, and interleukin (IL)‐12 plays an essential role in host defense against infectious diseases, we studied the antigen‐specific and non‐specific cellular immune responses in patients with chronic HCV infection. A proliferative response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) was found in all 20 patients. Of the 20, 8 (40%) displayed a lymphocyte proliferation in response to HCV antigen c22, 2 (10%) to c33, 6 (30%) to c100–3, and 1 (5%) to NS5. The addition of rhIL‐12 to cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) stimulated with PHA significantly enhanced the proliferative responses in normal controls as well as in HCV‐infected subjects. The increased proliferation was also observed in HCV‐infected patients when PBMC were co‐cultured with HCV antigens c22 and c 100–3 in the presence of rhIL‐12. The production of interferon γ (IFNγ), IL‐2, IL‐4 and IL‐10 was observed in 7 (58.3%), 5 (41.7%,), 3 (25.0%) and 5 (41.7%) HCV‐infected individuals stimulated with c22, and in 4 (33.3%), 2 (16.7%), 2 (16.7%) and 2 (16.7%) with c100–3, respectively. All HCV‐infected individuals had increased production of cytokines IFNγ, IL‐2, IL‐4 and IL‐10 in supernatants of PBMC after stimulation with PHA. IL‐12 significantly augmented Th1 cytokine production in HCV‐infected individuals stimulated with PHA and with HCV antigens. In conclusion, deficient cellular immune responses are present in HCV‐infected patients and IL‐12 can enhance the immune responses in these patients.
Published Version
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