PMID- 15558593
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20050308
LR  - 20181201
IS  - 1527-6465 (Print)
IS  - 1527-6465 (Linking)
VI  - 10
IP  - 12
DP  - 2004 Dec
TI  - Analysis of a successful HCV-specific CD8+ T cell response in patients with 
      recurrent HCV-infection after orthotopic liver transplantation.
PG  - 1487-96
AB  - Virus-specific CD8+ T cells play a major role in antiviral immune defenses; their 
      significance in the transplant setting, however, is unclear. In the present 
      study, we asked whether hepatitis C virus (HCV)-specific CD8+ T cells were 
      detectable in the presence of an immunosuppressive treatment and whether the 
      HCV-specific CD8+ T cell response correlates with treatment outcome in patients 
      who receive interferon (IFN)-alpha / ribavirin therapy after orthotopic liver 
      transplantation (OLTx). Liver- and blood-derived T cell lines of 21 patients 
      after OLTx were studied before, at the end of, and after antiviral treatment. 
      Virus-specific IFN-gamma production in response to a panel of previously 
      identified HCV-specific epitopes restricted by the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) 
      class I molecules A2, A3, B7, B35, and B44 of structural and nonstructural HCV 
      protein was determined by enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay. Before 
      treatment, only low numbers of HCV-specific CD8+ T cells were detectable. In 6 
      patients with a sustained virological response, a significant, multispecific, and 
      sustained CD8+ T cell response was detectable, which was mainly found in the 
      peripheral blood. Nonresponders and transient responders showed undetectable, 
      weak, or transient HCV-specific CD8+ T cell responses. (Sustained responders vs. 
      transient and nonresponders: Wilcoxon rank-signed test; P < .01). In conclusion, 
      our data indicate that despite immunosuppression, HCV-specific CD8+ T cells are 
      detectable in patients with recurrent HCV infection after OLTx and that a 
      significant, multispecific, and long-lasting HCV-specific CD8+ T cell response 
      contributes to viral elimination.
FAU - Gruener, Norbert Hubert
AU  - Gruener NH
AD  - Department of Medicine II, Klinikum Grosshadern, University of Munich, Munich, 
      Germany.
FAU - Jung, Maria-Christina
AU  - Jung MC
FAU - Ulsenheimer, Axel
AU  - Ulsenheimer A
FAU - Gerlach, Joern Tilman
AU  - Gerlach JT
FAU - Zachoval, Reinhart
AU  - Zachoval R
FAU - Diepolder, Helmut Michael
AU  - Diepolder HM
FAU - Baretton, Gustavo
AU  - Baretton G
FAU - Schauer, Rolf
AU  - Schauer R
FAU - Pape, Gerd Rudolf
AU  - Pape GR
FAU - Schirren, Carl Albrecht
AU  - Schirren CA
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
PT  - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
PL  - United States
TA  - Liver Transpl
JT  - Liver transplantation : official publication of the American Association for the 
      Study of Liver Diseases and the International Liver Transplantation Society
JID - 100909185
RN  - 0 (Antiviral Agents)
RN  - 0 (Interferon alpha-2)
RN  - 0 (Interferon-alpha)
RN  - 0 (Recombinant Proteins)
SB  - IM
MH  - Adult
MH  - Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use
MH  - CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/*immunology
MH  - Female
MH  - Follow-Up Studies
MH  - Hepacivirus/*immunology
MH  - Hepatitis C/drug therapy/*virology
MH  - Humans
MH  - Interferon alpha-2
MH  - Interferon-alpha/therapeutic use
MH  - Liver Transplantation/*immunology
MH  - Male
MH  - Middle Aged
MH  - Postoperative Period
MH  - Recombinant Proteins
MH  - Recurrence
MH  - Treatment Outcome
EDAT- 2004/11/24 09:00
MHDA- 2005/03/09 09:00
CRDT- 2004/11/24 09:00
PHST- 2004/11/24 09:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2005/03/09 09:00 [medline]
PHST- 2004/11/24 09:00 [entrez]
AID - 10.1002/lt.20300 [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Liver Transpl. 2004 Dec;10(12):1487-96. doi: 10.1002/lt.20300.