Comprehensive analyses of CD8+ T cell responses during longitudinal study of acute human hepatitis C.

ABSTRACT: We comprehensively studied the cellular immune response during acute human hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection by monthly prospective sampling of persons at high risk of infection. In 19 of 23 subjects, interferon-gamma-secreting T cells specific for 1 or more peptides spanning the entire HCV polyprotein were detected 1 to 3 months after infection. The median time to development of interferon gamma responses to HCV peptides was 33 days (range, 29-50 days), and these responses peaked between 180 and 360 days. Nineteen subjects had sufficient follow-up to determine outcome, with 15 (79%) developing persistent viremia and 4 (21%) clearing viremia spontaneously. Of those with progression to chronic infection and detectable T cell responses, all lost recognition of one or more antigens recognized

SUBMITTER: Cox AL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2759395 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature