J. Koskinas et al., CELLULAR AND HUMORAL IMMUNE-REACTIONS AGAINST AUTOANTIGENS AND HEPATITIS-C VIRAL-ANTIGENS IN CHRONIC HEPATITIS-C, Gastroenterology, 107(5), 1994, pp. 1436-1442
Background/Aims: Previous reports have suggested that the hepatitis C
virus (HCV) may induce autoimmune hepatitis. The aim of this study was
to examine this hypothesis by investigating humoral and cellular immu
ne responses to HCV-related antigens and various autoantigens in patie
nts with chronic HCV infections. Methods: Lymphoproliferative response
s in vitro and/ or circulating antibodies to an HCV core peptide, the
putative autoantigen GOR, the liver-specific hepatic asialoglycoprotei
n receptor (ASGP-R), and other autoantigens were investigated in 27 ad
ults with chronic hepatitis C. Results: Five patients with HCV (18.5%)
showed cellular immune responses to ASGP-R and two others had antibod
ies to ASGP-R, whereas 6 of 14 patients (42.8%) showed cellular respon
ses to GOR and 7 of 14 patients (50%) showed responses to HCV core. Ot
her autoantibodies were detected in three patients (11%). Nine patient
s with autoimmune hepatitis studied concurrently for comparison showed
cellular and/or humoral responses to ASGP-R but not to GOR. Only 2 of
11 patients with other chronic liver disorders showed immune response
s to any antigen tested. Conclusions: Specific immunocompetence agains
t HCV-related antigens can often be shown in patients with chronic hep
atitis C but is infrequently accompanied by autoreactions against live
r-specific or nonspecific antigens. A reported association between T-c
ell responses to HCV core and lack of liver damage could not be confir
med.