TH1 cytokine response to HCV peptides in Egyptian health care workers: a pilot study

Mona M Rafik,Alaa El-Dien Ms Hosny,Amal A Abbas,Shahira F Alfedawy,Dina A Soliman,Khaled O Abdallah,Khaled M Nasr El-Din Rakha,Rania A Abo Shady

doi:10.1186/1743-422x-10-144

Mona M Rafik, Alaa El-Dien Ms Hosny + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/1743-422x-10-144

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Journal: Virology journal	Publication Date: May 11, 2013
Citations: 24	License type: CC BY 2.0

Affiliation: Ain Shams University, Cairo University

Abstract

Our objective was to elucidate the effects of different HCV peptides on TH1 cytokine synthesis (interleukin 2(IL2), gamma interferon (INFγ) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF α)), in a proliferative response in a high risk population of HCV seronegative aviremic Egyptian healthcare workers (HCW). We studied the TH1 cytokine response to different HCV peptides among 47 HCW with and without evidence of HCV infection. Participants were classified according to the proliferation index (PI) in a CFSE proliferation assay as an indicator of previous exposure to HCV. Cytokines were analyzed using Luminex xMAP technology. Results showed that positive PI HCW produced a higher IL2 in response to all HCV peptides except NS4, a higher IFNγ response to NS3 and NS4 and no difference in TNFα response when compared to the negative PI HCWs. When compared to chronic HCV HCW, positive PI HCW showed no difference in the IL2 response, a higher IFNγ response to NS4 and NS5 HCV peptides and a higher TNFα response to all peptides. In conclusion the magnitude and type of cytokines produced in HCV infection is critical in determining the outcome of infection. NS4 & NS5 HCV peptides induce a protective TH1 response in positive PI HCW

Highlights

Prospective studies of healthcare workers (HCW) after occupational exposure have identified the average hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission rate associated with contaminated needle sticks to be 1.8% [1]
Cytokine responses to HCV peptides produce a similar pattern within each individual group All of the HCV peptides, structural and nonstructural, (Core, NS3, NS4 and NS5) studied produced a similar IL2 and INF γ response with no significant difference between them in each group
In positive Proliferation index (PI) HCW both structural and nonstructural (NS3 and NS5) HCV peptides produced a positive correlation between IL2 and INFγ while in the negative HCW only nonstructural peptides (NS4 & NS5) did

Summary

Introduction

Prospective studies of healthcare workers (HCW) after occupational exposure have identified the average hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission rate associated with contaminated needle sticks to be 1.8% [1]. Kubitschke et al 2007 carried out a systematic review of 22 studies reporting a total of 6956 injuries involving HCVcontaminated needles and demonstrated seroconversion rates ranging between 0% and 10.3%, with a mean of 0.75% with worldwide differences in HCV seroconversion rates. This suggests that genetic factors might provide some level of natural resistance against HCV [2]. In recent studies the prevalence of HCV antibody in Egyptian HCW workers was found to range from 11.2% to 16.6% [3,4] and HCV viraemia was found to be 8%, but the prevalence was not significantly different than that found among non-medical personnel. Previous studies in Egypt concluded that the infections were more likely to be community-acquired and not occupationally related but Rafik et al [3] added that workers in the dialysis unit and laboratory technicians showed significantly higher prevalence than other job groups in the same departments

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