CD49b, a major marker of regulatory T-cells type 1, predicts the response to antiviral therapy of recurrent hepatitis C after liver transplantation

Biomed Res Int. 2014:2014:290878. doi: 10.1155/2014/290878. Epub 2014 Jan 19.

Abstract

The TRANSPEG study was a prospective study to assess the efficacy of antiviral therapy in patients with a recurrent hepatitis C virus (HCV) after liver transplantation. The influence of regulatory T-cells (Tregs) on the response to antiviral therapy was analyzed. Patients were considered as a function of their sustained virological response (SVR) at 18 months after treatment initiation. A transcriptomic analysis was performed to assess Treg markers (Tr1 and FoxP3(+)) in serum, PBMC, and liver biopsies. 100 patients had been included in the TRANSPEG study. Data from 27 of these patients were available. The results showed that the expression of CD49b (a predominant marker of Tr1) before the introduction of antiviral therapy was significantly associated with SVR. Responders displayed lower serum levels of CD49b than nonresponders (P < 0.02). These findings were confirmed in PBMC and liver biopsies even if in a nonsignificant manner for the limited number of samples. The assessment of CD49b levels is thus predictive of the response to antiviral therapy. This data suggests that CD49b may be a marker of the failure of the immune response and antiviral therapy during HCV recurrence. The assessment of CD49b could help to select patients who require earlier and more intensive antiviral therapy.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Biomarkers / metabolism
  • Biopsy
  • Demography
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Hepatitis C / drug therapy*
  • Hepatitis C / virology
  • Humans
  • Integrin alpha2 / blood
  • Integrin alpha2 / genetics
  • Integrin alpha2 / metabolism*
  • Interferon-alpha / pharmacology
  • Interferon-alpha / therapeutic use
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver / pathology
  • Liver Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Polyethylene Glycols / pharmacology
  • Polyethylene Glycols / therapeutic use
  • Recombinant Proteins / pharmacology
  • Recombinant Proteins / therapeutic use
  • Recurrence
  • Ribavirin / pharmacology
  • Ribavirin / therapeutic use
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Biomarkers
  • Integrin alpha2
  • Interferon-alpha
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Ribavirin
  • peginterferon alfa-2a