T cell immune responses may be important for the elimination of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection during antiviral treatment. In the present study, the kinetics of T cell responses to HCV antigens (NS3-4 and core) were prospectively assessed and were correlated with virologic outcome in 31 patients with chronic HCV infection undergoing peginterferon-α2a/ribavirin therapy. NS3-4-directed T helper cell type 1 (Th1) responses were detected in 77% of patients with a significant decline in viremia at treatment week 4 but were not detected not in those with a slower viral decline. The detectability of NS3-4-directed Th1 responses was associated with faster viremia clearance, was short-lived, and did not seem to be associated with the final treatment outcome. © 2007 by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved.
Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.
CITATION STYLE
Aberle, J. H., Perstinger, G., Weseslindtner, L., Sinzinger, U., Gurguta, C., Steindl-Munda, P., … Holzmann, H. (2007). CD4+ T cell responses in patients with chronic hepatitis C undergoing peginterferon/ribavirin therapy correlate with faster, but not sustained, viral clearance. Journal of Infectious Diseases, 195(9), 1315–1319. https://doi.org/10.1086/513278