Mechanisms of Restoring T Cell Immunity after Cure of Chronic Viral Infection

We analyzed hepatitis C virus (HCV)-specific T cells and non-specific memory T cell populations from 6 patients with chronic HCV infection receiving 12 weeks of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy with aritaprevir/ritonavir/ombitasvir + dasabuvir + ribavirin. All patients were treated successfully. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were obtained from blood draws right before treatment initiation (Pre-DAA) and 12 months after the end of treatment (Post-DAA). In each patient, HCV-specific cells were sorted using two different HCV multimers: One representing an epitope present in the circulating HCV genome and one epitope where the virus had escaped the T cell response and thus the corresponding T cells did not receive a TCR signal in vivo. Sorted specific T-cell populations and memory... (for more see dbGaP study page.)