Role of regulatory T-cells during hepatitis C infection: From the acute phase to post-transplantation recurrence

• Published in: Digestive and liver disease Vol. 47; no. 11; pp. 913 - 917
• Main Authors: Barjon, Clément, Dahlqvist, Géraldine, Calmus, Yvon, Conti, Filomena
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2015
• Subjects: Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Hepacivirus - immunology; Hepatitis C - immunology; Hepatitis C virus; Hepatitis C, Chronic - complications; Hepatitis C, Chronic - immunology; Humans; Liver Cirrhosis - etiology; Liver Cirrhosis - immunology; Liver Transplantation; Postoperative Complications - immunology; Recurrence; Regulatory T-cells; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory - immunology; Transplantation; Regulatory T-cells; Hepatitis C virus; Transplantation
• ISSN: 1590-8658; 1878-3562
• DOI: 10.1016/j.dld.2015.06.014

Abstract Hepatitis C viral infection persists and becomes chronic in a majority of affected individuals. Numerous factors have been described to explain how the virus manages to escape the host immune system. One important escape mechanism is the increase in regulatory T cells induced by the virus. In this review, we will focus on the status of regulatory T cells throughout the natural history of hepatitis C infection and after liver transplantation. The molecular mechanisms involved in increasing the number of regulatory T cells are also discussed, as are data regarding the impact of regulatory T-cells on hepatic fibrosis in the context of hepatitis C viral infection.