S. Antonaci et al., Relationship between T lymphocyte responsiveness and T-helper1/T-helper2 type cytokine release in chronic hepatitis C: a critical reappraisal, MICROBIOS, 106(415), 2001, pp. 203-212
Recruitment of virus-specific T lymphocyte subpopulations to liver sites in
chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection implies a key role for the immun
e response in host-virus interaction. In spite of a multispecific and polyc
lonal cytotoxic function exerted by CD8+ lymphocytes, CD4-mediated activity
is weak. This allows the infection to persist which in turn is responsible
for the development of chronic hepatitis C (CH-C). Such a finding outlines
the occurrence of a possible relationship between cytokine (CK) production
by CD4 subsets, i.e. T helper (Th)1 or Th2 cells, and the clinical outcome
. A prevalence of Th1-derived CK occurs in infected liver, while increased
amounts of Th2-related CK are usually found in peripheral blood. Moreover,
peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) cultures from CH-C subjects exhibi
t an impaired interferon (IFN)-gamma production and an increase of interleu
kin (IL)-12 p70 release after stimulation. The latter pattern seems to be d
ue to the enhanced release of IL-12 p40 homodimers, which antagonize IL-12
p70 bioactivity and favour IL-10-induced effects. These results suggest tha
t further extensive studies on the imbalance of the CK network at a molecul
ar level are required to improve the therapeutical approach in CH-C subject
s.