Aim: In the present study, antibody and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) proliferative responses against hepatitis C virus (HCV) antigens were evaluated in HCV chronically infected patients.
Methods: Paired serum and PBMC samples were taken six months apart from 34 individuals, either treated or not, and tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester staining.
Results: Over 70% of the patients showed specific IgG and IgM against capsid, E1 and NS3, while HVR-1 was recognized by half of the patients. An increase in the levels of the anti-capsid IgM (P = 0.027) and IgG (P = 0.0006) was observed in six-month samples, compared to baseline. Similarly, a significantly higher percent of patients had detectable IgA reactivity to capsid (P = 0.017) and NS3 (P = 0.005) after six months, compared to baseline. Particularly, IgA against structural antigens positively correlated with hepatic damage (P = 0.036). IgG subclasses evaluation against capsid and NS3 revealed a positive recognition mediated by IgG1 in more than 80% of the individuals. On the contrary, less than 30% of the patients showed a positive proliferative response either of CD4+ or CD8+ T cells, being the capsid poorly recognized.
Conclusion: These results confirm that while the cellular immune response is narrow and weak, a broad and vigorous humoral response occurs in HCV chronic infection. The observed correlation between IgA and hepatic damage may have diagnostic significance, although it warrants further confirmation.