Effects of the CCR5-Delta32 mutation on hepatitis C virus-specific immune responses in patients with haemophilia

Immunol Invest. 2009;38(3-4):284-96. doi: 10.1080/08820130902832035.

Abstract

In hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection antiviral T cells express the CC chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5). Their recruitment to the liver is an important step in the immune response. A 32 base pair deletion in the CCR5 gene leads to reduced expression and total loss of CCR5 in CCR5-Delta32 heterozygous and homozygous subjects, respectively. However, the role of this mutation for antiviral immunity remains unclear. Here, we analysed proliferation, IFN-gamma and IL-4 secretion (ELISpot) induced by the HCV antigens core, NS3, NS4, and NS5a in 21 anti-HCV-positive haemophiliac patients in relationship to their CCR5 genotypes (CCR5 wildtype n = 10, CCR5-Delta32 heterozygous n = 5 and CCR5-Delta32 homozygous n = 6). Furthermore, T cell migration in response to the CCR5 ligands CCL3, -4 and -5 was studied. Overall IFN-gamma responses to HCV proteins were only slightly greater in CCR5 wild-type patients than in CCR5-Delta32 carriers (0.6 versus 0.24 SFC/10(4) PBMC; p = 0.043). This difference was consistently seen with all tested HCV antigens. In contrast, neither T cell migration, nor PBMC proliferation, nor IL-4 production differed between CCR5 genotypes. Interruption of the CCR5 signalling pathway due to CCR5-Delta32 may potentially result in subtle reduction of HCV specific IFN-gamma responses in anti-HCV-positive haemophiliac patients.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / immunology
  • Hemophilia A / complications*
  • Hemophilia A / genetics*
  • Hemophilia A / immunology
  • Hepacivirus / immunology*
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / complications
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / genetics*
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / immunology
  • Humans
  • Interferon-gamma / biosynthesis
  • Interferon-gamma / immunology
  • Interleukin-4 / biosynthesis
  • Interleukin-4 / immunology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mutation
  • Receptors, CCR5 / genetics*
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / immunology

Substances

  • NS3 protein, hepatitis C virus
  • NS4 protein, hepatitis C virus
  • Receptors, CCR5
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins
  • Interleukin-4
  • Interferon-gamma
  • NS-5 protein, hepatitis C virus