Regulatory Phenotype, PD-1 and TLR3 Expression in T Cells and Monocytes from HCV Patients Undergoing Antiviral Therapy: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background & AimsThe cellular immunity has a profound impact on the status of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However, the response of cellular immunity on the virological response in patients with antiviral treatment remains largely unclear. We aimed to clarify the response of peripheral T cells and monocytes in chronic hepatitis C patients with antiviral treatment.MethodsPatients with chronic hepatitis C were treated either with interferon alpha-2b plus ribavirin (n = 37) or with pegylated interferon alpha-2a plus ribavirin (n = 33) for up to 24 weeks. Frequencies of peripheral regulatory T-cells (Tregs), programmed death-1 (PD-1) expressing CD4+ T-cells or CD8+ T-cells and toll-like receptor (TLR) 3 expressing CD14+ monocytes were evaluated by flow cytometry in patients at baseline, 12 and 24 weeks following treatment and in 20 healthy controls.ResultsFrequencies of Tregs, PD-1 and TLR3 expressing cells were higher in patients than those in control subjects (P+ or CD8+ T-cells than those without cEVR at 12 weeks (P+ monocytes at baseline had a high rate of cEVR (PConclusionsLow peripheral TLR3 expressing CD14+ monocytes at baseline could serve as a predictor for cEVR of antiviral therapy in chronic HCV-infected patients. The cEVR rates were significantly increased in the patients with reduced circulating Tregs, PD-1 expressing CD4+ or CD8+ T-cells.Trial RegistrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR10001090.