Costimulatory Molecules and Cytotoxic T cells in Chronic Hepatitis C: Defence Mechanisms Devoted to Host Integrity or Harmful Events Favouring Liver Injury Progression? A Review

Abstract The recruitment of antigen-specific lymphocytes at liver site represents a prominent feature in patients chronically infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). However, despite the strong and multispecific response, chronic infection leads in a significant number of cases to the development of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Immunopharmacology and immunotoxicology 1998-01, Vol.20 (4), p.455-472
Main Authors: Antonaci, Salvatore, Schiraldi, Oronzo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antigens, CD - immunology
B7-1 Antigen - immunology
B7-2 Antigen
Biological and medical sciences
Disease Progression
Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen
Hepatitis C, Chronic - complications
Hepatitis C, Chronic - immunology
Humans
Liver Diseases - pathology
Liver Diseases - virology
Liver. Biliary tract. Portal circulation. Exocrine pancreas
Medical sciences
Membrane Glycoproteins - immunology
Other diseases. Semiology
T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic - immunology
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Summary:Abstract The recruitment of antigen-specific lymphocytes at liver site represents a prominent feature in patients chronically infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). However, despite the strong and multispecific response, chronic infection leads in a significant number of cases to the development of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The finding that the expression of CD80 structure positively correlates with disease histological worsening points out a role for the costimulatory pathway in the progression of liver cell injury. On the other hand, the demonstration of CD95 and CD95-ligand positive cells in the context of periportal areas, a pattern which is not strictly associated to HCV tissue distribution, indicates the occurrence of either virus-infected or innocent bystander hepatocyte killing. Nonetheless, the persistence of HCV, in spite of cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) liver recruitment, suggests a possible in-situ imbalance of cytotoxic activities, above all referred to perforin-granzyme-dependent necrosis. Altogether, these findings outline that several factors might be involved in HCV-driven immunopathogenesis. Therefore, the fully clarification of these mechanisms may offer a suitable therapeutical approach for the improvement of clinical outcome in chronic hepatitis C.
ISSN:0892-3973
1532-2513
DOI:10.3109/08923979809031510