Intrahepatic CD4 super(+) T-Cell Apoptosis is Related to METAVIR Score in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C Virus

• Published in: Scandinavian journal of immunology 2005-08, Vol.62 (2), p.168-175
• Main Authors: Roger, P-M, Chaillou, S, Breittmayer, J-P, Dahman, M, St Paul, M-C, Chevallier, P, Benzaken, S, Ticchioni, M, Bernard, A, Dellamonica, P, Tran, A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Hepatitis C virus
• ISSN: 0300-9475; 1365-3083
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3083.2005.01648.x

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection leads to liver injury, which is thought to be immune-mediated. Apoptosis of hepatic T cells could influence histological damage. We quantified peripheral and intrahepatic T-cell apoptosis in 28 patients with chronic hepatitis C by using cytofluorometric techniques. METAVIR score and HCV plasma viral load were determined. Six liver biopsies, obtained from controls without chronic hepatitis during hepatobiliary surgery, served as controls. In patients, liver T-cell apoptosis was upregulated compared to peripheral T cells: 35 versus 7% for CD4 super(+) and 56 versus 13% for CD8 super(+) T cells (P < 0.001). Liver T-cell apoptosis levels from patients were increased compared to controls for both CD4 super(+) (P = 0.041) and CD8 super(+) T cells (P = 0.007). Nine patients exhibiting METAVIR scores A and F less than or equal to 1 showed higher intrahepatic CD4 super(+) T-cell apoptosis compared to the 19 patients with a higher METAVIR score (P = 0.001) and both histological activity and fibrosis were related to apoptosis level. There was also an inverse relationship between the level of intrahepatic CD8 super(+) T-cell apoptosis and serum transaminase activity (P = 0.023). Our study shows immune compartmentalization, suggesting that the study of peripheral blood lymphocytes may not be fully relevant to the pathophysiology of HCV hepatitis, and that the severity of liver injury is inversely correlated with intrahepatic CD4 super(+) T-cell apoptosis.