In vivo interferon-alpha/ribavirin treatment modulates Vγ9Vδ2 T-cell function during chronic HCV infection

J Interferon Cytokine Res. 2013 Mar;33(3):136-41. doi: 10.1089/jir.2012.0050. Epub 2013 Jan 11.

Abstract

In chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, treatment failure and defective host immune response highly demand improved therapy strategies. Vγ9Vδ2 T-cells represent a good target for HCV immunotherapy, since phosphoantigen (PhAg)-activated Vγ9Vδ2 T-lymphocytes are able to inhibit subgenomic HCV replication by interferon (IFN)-γ release. A profound impairment of IFN-γ production by Vγ9Vδ2 T-cells during chronic HCV infection was previously shown. Interestingly, in vitro IFN-α partially restored Vγ9Vδ2 T-cells responsiveness to PhAg, by stabilizing IFN-γ-mRNA. To verify how in vivo IFN-α/ribavirin (RBV) treatment could affect Vγ9Vδ2 T-cells phenotype and responsiveness to PhAg in HCV-infected patients, 10 subjects underwent a longitudinal study before and after treatment. IFN-α/RBV therapy did not significantly modify Vγ9Vδ2 T-cell numbers and differentiation profile. Interestingly, Vγ9Vδ2 T-cell responsiveness remained unmodified until 3 weeks of therapy, but dropped after 1 month, suggesting that repeated in vivo IFN-α administration in the absence of T-cell receptor (TCR)-mediated signals results in Vγ9Vδ2 T-cell anergy. The present work defines the window of possible application of combined strategies targeting Vγ9Vδ2 T-cells during chronic HCV infection; specifically, the first 3 weeks from the beginning of treatment may represent the optimal time to target Vγ9Vδ2 T-cells in vivo, since their function in terms of IFN-γ production is preserved.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antiviral Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Clonal Anergy / drug effects*
  • Clonal Anergy / immunology
  • Female
  • Hepacivirus / immunology*
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic* / drug therapy
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic* / immunology
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic* / pathology
  • Humans
  • Interferon-alpha / administration & dosage*
  • Interferon-gamma / immunology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / immunology*
  • Ribavirin / administration & dosage*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • IFNG protein, human
  • Interferon-alpha
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta
  • Ribavirin
  • Interferon-gamma