Increased frequency of CD56Bright NK-cells, CD3−CD16+CD56− NK-cells and activated CD4+T-cells or B-cells in parallel with CD4+CDC25High T-cells control potentially viremia in blood donors with HCV
✍ Scribed by Maria Alice Sant'Anna Zarife; Eliana Almeida Gomes Reis; Theomira Mauadie Azevedo Carmo; Gisele Barreto Lopes; Emilia Carolina Malafaia Brandão; Helder Reis Silva; Nelma Santana; Olindo Assis Martins-Filho; Mitermayer Galvão Reis
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 2008
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 425 KB
- Volume
- 81
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0146-6615
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✦ Synopsis
Abstract
A detailed phenotypic analysis of major and minor circulating lymphocyte subsets is described in potential blood donors with markers of hepatitis C virus (HCV), including non‐viremic and viremic groups. Although there were no changes in the hematological profile of either group, increased the levels of pre‐NK cells (CD3^−^CD16^+^CD56^−^) and a lower frequency of mature NK cells (CD3^−^CD16^+^CD56^+^) characterized innate immunity in the non‐viremic group. Both non‐viremic and viremic groups displayed significantly increased levels of CD56^Bright^ NK cells. Furthermore, this subset was significantly elevated in the viremic subgroup with a low viral load. In addition, an increase in the NKT2 subset was observed only in this subgroup. An enhanced frequency of activated CD4^+^ T‐cells (CD4^+^HLA‐DR^+^) was a characteristic feature of the non‐viremic group, whereas elevated CD19^+^ B‐cells and CD19^+^CD86^+^ cell populations were the major phenotypic features of the viremic group, particularly in individuals with a low viral load. Although CD4^+^CD25^High^ T‐cells were significantly elevated in both the viremic and non‐viremic groups, it was particularly evident in the viremic low viral load subgroup. A parallel increase in CD4^+^CD25^High^ T‐cells, pre‐NK, and activated CD4^+^ T‐cells was observed in the non‐viremic group, whereas a parallel increase in CD4^+^CD25^High^ T‐cells and CD19^+^ B‐cells was characteristic of the low viral load subgroup. These findings suggest that CD56^Bright^ NK cells, together with pre‐NK cells and activated CD4^+^ T‐cells in combination with CD4^+^CD25^High^ T‐cells, might play an important role in controlling viremia. Elevated CD56^Bright^ NK cells, B‐cell responses and a T‐regulated immunological profile appeared to be associated with a low viral load. J. Med. Virol. 81:49–59, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.