Antigen-induced regulatory T cells in HBV chronically infected patients

Abstract T cell response against HBV is vigorous in patients with acute hepatitis who clear the virus, whereas it is weak and narrowly focused in patients with chronic disease. We report that following incubation with HBcAg, a population of CD4+FoxP3+ cells expressing phenotypic markers of both natu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Virology (New York, N.Y.) N.Y.), 2007-11, Vol.368 (1), p.41-49
Main Authors: Barboza, Luisa, Salmen, Siham, Goncalves, Loredana, Colmenares, Melisa, Peterson, Darrell, Montes, Henry, Cartagirone, Raimondo, Gutiérrez, Maria del Carmen, Berrueta, Lisbeth
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
CD4+FoxP3
CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - chemistry
CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology
Chronic Disease
Chronically infected hepatitis B patients
CTLA-4
Forkhead Transcription Factors - analysis
GITR
HBcAg
Hepatitis B - immunology
Hepatitis B Core Antigens - immunology
Hepatitis B virus
Hepatitis B virus - immunology
Humans
IL-10
Infectious Disease
Interleukin-10 - analysis
Middle Aged
Natural Tregs
T-Lymphocyte Subsets - immunology
T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory - immunology
TGF-β
Viral Load
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Summary:Abstract T cell response against HBV is vigorous in patients with acute hepatitis who clear the virus, whereas it is weak and narrowly focused in patients with chronic disease. We report that following incubation with HBcAg, a population of CD4+FoxP3+ cells expressing phenotypic markers of both natural and induced Tregs, can be antigen-induced from peripheral mononuclear cells. Conversely, naive and naturally immune subjects did not increase CD4+FoxP3+ Tregs following stimulation with HBcAg, supporting the idea that natural Tregs are able to respond specifically to HBV antigen. Furthermore, increased frequencies of antigen-induced CD4+FoxP3+IL-10+ Tregs correlated with viral load, suggesting that antigen-induced Tregs could contribute to an inadequate response against the virus, leading to chronic infection and support the view that specific natural Tregs may be implicated in host immune tolerance during HBV infection.
ISSN:0042-6822
1096-0341
DOI:10.1016/j.virol.2007.06.030