Modulation of Production of Th1/Th2 Cytokines in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells and Neutrophils by Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Chronically Infected Patients

Abstract

This study investigated the influence of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection on the cytokine production profiles of the peripheral blood monoculear cells (PBMC) and neutrophils in chronically naïve HCV-infected patients. Seventy-five genotype-4 naïve HCV-infected patients (HCV+) and healthy subjects (HCV−) were enrolled. The neutrophils and the PBMC were separated by density gradient sedimentation and stimulated with a mitogen. The culture supernatants were evaluated for levels of IFN-α, IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-9, IL-10, IL-12, and TNF-α using anti-cytokine antibody MACSPlex capture beads. The PBMC cytokine profiles of HCV+ patients showed significantly lower mean values for IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-6, IL-9, and IL-10 (p < 0.0001) as compared to HCV− subjects. In contrast, HCV+ patients showed higher mean levels of PBMC cytokine values for IL-5 and TNF-α (p < 0.0001). As for neutrophils, HCV+ patients showed significantly lower mean levels of IFN-α, IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-9, and IL-10 (p < 0.0001). In contrast, the neutrophils from HCV+ patients showed higher mean levels of IL-5, IL-12, and TNF-α (p < 0.0001). Th1–Th2 cytokine ratios suggested a lower Th1 bias in HCV+ subjects as compared to HCV− subjects. Our results suggest that chronic HCV infection brings about an immunomodulatory effect not only on neutrophils, but also to a lower extent on PBMCs

HCV spontaneous clearers showed low senescence profile in people living with HIV under long ART

“…to be significantly increased compared with younger individuals. 54,55 This also agrees with previous studies, where increased cytokines of Th1 response 56,57 and IP-10 58 were also observed in CHC patients.…”

“…In particular, elevated concentrations of the pro‐inflammatory cytokines IL‐1β, IL‐2, IL‐6, IL‐8, and TNF‐α were found, cytokines that during normal healthy aging have been shown to be significantly increased compared with younger individuals 54,55 . This also agrees with previous studies, where increased cytokines of Th1 response 56,57 and IP‐10 58 were also observed in CHC patients. Likewise, the increase in factors associated with SASP has also been observed in other viral infections such as hepatitis B 59 and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) 60 .…”

HCV spontaneous clearers showed low senescence profile in people living with HIV

“…In particular, elevated concentrations of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α were found, cytokines that during normal healthy aging have been shown to be significantly increased compared with younger individuals (39,40). This also agrees with previous studies, where increased cytokines of Th1 response (41,42) and IP-10 (43) were also observed in CHC patients. Likewise, the increase in factors associated with SASP has also been observed in other viral infections such as Hepatitis B (44) and Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (45).…”

Influence of SARS-COV-2 Infection on Cytokine Production by Mitogen-Stimulated Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells and Neutrophils in COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit Patients

“…Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were separated from fresh whole blood by density-gradient centrifugation on Ficoll-Hypaque (Pharmacia Biotech, Uppsala, Sweden) [24]. PBMCs were suspended at a final cell concentration of 8 × 10 6 cells/mL in Roswell Park Memorial Institute (RPMI) medium (Gibco BRL, New York, NY, USA) which contained 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) (Eurobio Scientific, Scandinavie Les Ulis, France).…”