ABSTRACT
The present studies assessed the level of tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) subsets from patients with chronic HCV undergoing interferon α/ribavirin-based therapy (Ifn/R). Methods. TNFR family member mRNA expression was determined using quantitative real-time PCR assays (RTPCRs) in PBMC from 39 HCV+ patients and 21 control HCV- patients. Further subset analysis of HCV + patients (untreated (U), sustained virological responders (SVR), and nonresponders (NR)/relapsers (Rel)) PBMC was performed via staining with anti-CD123, anti-CD33, anti-TNFR1 or via RTPCR for TNFR1 mRNA. Results. A similar level of TNFR1 mRNA in PBMC from untreated HCV+ genotype 1 patients and controls was noted. TNFR1 and TNFR2 mRNA levels in PBMC from HCV+ patients with SVR were statistically different than levels in HCV(-) patients. A significant difference was noted between the peak values of TNFR1 of the CD123+ PBMC isolated from SVR and the NR/Rel. Conclusion. Upregulation of TNFR1 expression, occurring in a specific subset of CD123+ dendritic cells, appeared in HCV+ patients with SVR.
ABSTRACT
Inhibition of LIGHT (a cellular ligand for herpes virus entry mediator and lymphotoxin receptor)/herpes simplex virus entry mediator (HVEM) and LIGHT/lymphotoxin beta receptor (LT beta R) interactions decreases mortality in MHC class I and II disparate graft-vs-host disease (GVHD). The present studies assessed the effects of these interactions on the generation of CD4+ T cell alloresponses in MHC class II-disparate MLC and GVHD. An inhibitor protein of LIGHT and LT alpha beta2 (LT beta R-Ig) and an inhibitor protein of LIGHT (HVEM-Ig) caused similar decreases in alloresponses of control B6 or B6.129S1-IL12rb2(tm1Jm) (B6.IL12R-/-) spleen cells (SpC) in a MHC class II-disparate MLC. GVHD-induced wasting disease in MHC class II-disparate recipients of B6 CD4+ SpC who received either the LT beta R-Ig-encoding adenovirus (LT beta R-Ig Adv; 13.1 +/- 10.9%; n = 10; p = 0.0004) or the HVEM-Ig-encoding adenovirus (HVEM-Ig Adv; 16.4 +/- 9.9%; n = 13; p = 0.0008) was significantly reduced compared with that in recipients of a control adenovirus (30.4 +/- 8.8%; n = 13). Furthermore, gut GVHD histologic scores of recipients of B6 CD4+ SpC who received the LT beta R-Ig Adv (0.8 +/- 0.8; n = 5; p = 0.0007) or the HVEM-Ig Adv (1.4 +/- 0.5; n = 5; p = 0.008) were reduced compared with scores of recipients of a control adenovirus (2.5 +/- 0.75; n = 11). In the intestine, both LT beta R-Ig Adv and HVEM-Ig Adv decreased CD4+ T cells (0.35 +/- 0.4 x 10(6) (n = 6) vs 0.36 +/- 0.02 x 10(6) (n = 9); p = 0.03 and p = 0.007) compared with control adenovirus (0.86 +/- 0.42 x 10(6); n = 9). LIGHT is critical for optimal CD4+ T cell alloresponses in MHC class II-disparate MLC and GVHD.
