Pathogenesis of chronic Hepatitis C virus infection: immune response in the liver microenvironment and peripheral compartment

RIOS D; CASCIATO P; CALDIROLA MS; GAILLARD MI; GIADANS C; AMEIGEIRAS B; DE MATTEO E; PRECIADO MV; VALVA P

Frontiers in Cellular and Infectious Disease

Lausanne : Frontiers Media SA

Año: 2021

Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) pathogenic mechanisms are still a topic of interest, as well as the participation of the immune response in the generation of liver damage. Here, we evaluated immune cell populations and cytokines in liver and peripheral blood (PB) to elucidate their role in CHC pathogenesis.B, CTL, Th, Treg, Th1, Th17 and NK cells localization and frequency were evaluated on liver biopsies by immunohistochemistry, while frequency, differentiation, and functional status on PB by flow cytometry. TNF−α, IL−23, IFN−γ, IL−1β, IL−6, IL−8, IL−17A, IL−21, IL−10 and TGF−β expression were quantified in fresh liver biopsy by RT-qPCR and in plasma by CBA/ELISA. Liver CTL and Th1 at lobular area inversely correlated with viral load (r=−0.469, p=0.003 and r=−0.384, p=0.040). Treg correlated with CTL and Th1 at lobular area (r=0.784, p