EVALUATION OF CELLULAR IMMUNE-RESPONSES AND SOLUBLE MEDIATORS IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HEPATITIS-C VIRUS (CHCV) INFECTION

In 54 patients with cHCV infection, peripheral immune responsiveness a nd soluble mediator release were evaluated. Results demonstrate that i n these patients phagocytosis and killing capacities exerted by polymo rphonuclear cells and monocytes were profoundly depressed. At the same time, absolute numbers of CD3 +, CD8 + and CD16 + cells were reduced, while the CD4 + CD8 + dependent antibacterial activity was also impai red. With special reference to soluble mediators, elevated amounts of both soluble interleukin-2 receptor and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 were detected in sera of patients. By contrast, serum leve ls of tumor necrosis factor-alpha were within normal ranges, whereas i nterferon-gamma serum concentrations were decreased. Of note, in 18,5% of cHCV patients circulating levels of bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) were detected by means of Limulus assay. In the Limulus + subset of patients, absolute numbers of CD14 + cells were reduced in a signi ficant manner, this implying a putative monocyte-LPS interaction. In c onclusion, the overall results indicate a condition of peripheral immu ne depression in cHCV patients with an exaggerated shedding of various mediators endowed with noxious effects for the host.