Presence of HCV RNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells may predict patients’ response to interferon and ribavirin therapy

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVESHepatitis C virus (HCV) is considered a hepatotropic virus, but it can replicate in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), which influence the sustained virological response (SVR) of the patients, as well as relapse in successfully treated patients. The main objective of this study was to establish the importance of PBMC HCV RNA detection as a primary test to declare the patient as a responder, and the secondary objective was to investigate the risk of non-SVR or relapse in individuals who showed an end-of-treatment (ETR).DESIGN AND SETTINGSBlood samples were collected after the completion of 6 months of therapy, and they were collected 6 months after the completion of treatment.PATIENTS AND METHODSA total 103 patients infected with the 3a genotype of HCV and those who were treated with interferon-α-2b and ribavirin for 24 weeks were selected. HCV RNA in plasma of at the end of treatment and 6 months after the completion of treatment was determined with the help of quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).RESULTSOf the 103 patients, 74.8% (number [n]=77) were end-of-treatment responders, while 25.2% (n=26) were nonresponders. Seventy-seven responders were tested for HCV RNA in their PBMCs. The HCV RNA was detected in the PBMCs of 29 patients (37.7%). After 6 months of the end of treatment, 15 (19.5%) of 77 ETR patients showed virological relapse, while 62 (80.5%) patients attained SVR. Relapse appeared significantly more often in patients with HCV RNA in their PBMCs at the ETR stage when compared to the patients who did not have the viral RNA (34.5% versus 10.4%, respectively; R2=6.67, P=.01; odds ratio [OR]: 1.3; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.032–1.811).CONCLUSIONPatients with HCV RNA in their PBMCs after attaining an ETR are more likely to show relapse as compared to patients who are negative for viral RNA in PBMCs at the ETR stage.

Assessment of Hepatitis C Virus RNA in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells as a Predictor of Response to Pegylated-Interferon and Ribavirin: A Cohort Study

“…Sample size was one of the advantages of the current study compared to previous studies (14,(19)(20)(21)(22) type 3a at the end of treatment (14). Intervals of the follow up of patients in a study by Coppola (21) were the same as the current study.…”

“…Besides, follow up time was different in the current study. In a study by Zaman et al (14), 77 responders at the end of treatment were tested for HCV RNA in their PBMCs. The HCV RNA was detected in the PBMCs of 29 (37.7%) patients.…”

“…While HCV can be detected in serum as a marker for monitoring treatment and evaluation of treatment success, other reservoirs, such as peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) or liver can be assessed for detection of HCV RNA (14). The kinetic and detection of HCV RNA in PBMCs through the course of treatment attracted attention as a potential marker for prediction of SVR (14,15).…”

“…The kinetic and detection of HCV RNA in PBMCs through the course of treatment attracted attention as a potential marker for prediction of SVR (14,15).…”

Early detection of Ebola virus proteins in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from infected mice

“…PBMC function and characterization can be evaluated downstream via re-stimulation of the cells in culture and flow-cytometry to determine cell type, viability and proliferation. The use of PBMC sample collection for diagnostic purposes for the detection of viral proteins or nucleic acids has also been performed using flow-cytometry techniques and RT-PCR [29][30][31][32]. However, no study to date has sampled EBOV infected PBMC at various times PI to determine temporal based analysis for diagnostic potential by targeting viral proteins.…”