Objective: To investigate the variations of HCV core and E2 region epitopes during transfusion of activated immune cells.
Methods: Four patients receiving transfusion of activated immune cells were under continuously observation. HCV titers were measured by quantitive PCR. HCV core and E2 regions were cloned and sequences were analyzed by computer software.
Results: During the follow-up the serum ALT levels and the HCV virus titers fluctuated greatly in each of these persons. After transfusion, no significant variations were observed in HCV core and E2 coding regions.
Conclusions: The alteration of host immune attacks could induce the fluctuations of HCV load without any mutations in the currently observed coding genes of the epitopes.