Dendritic cells activation is associated with sustained virological response to telaprevir treatment of HCV-infected patients

Publication date: Available online 20 July 2017
Source:Clinical Immunology
Author(s): Sacchi Alessandra, Tumino Nicola, Turchi Federica, Refolo Giulia, Fimia GianMaria, Ciccosanti Fabiola, Montalbano Marzia, Lionetti Raffaella, Taibi Chiara, D'Offizi Gianpiero, Casetti Rita, Bordoni Veronica, Cimini Eleonora, Martini Federico, Agrati Chiara
First anti-HCV treatments, that include protease inhibitors in conjunction with IFN-α and Ribavirin, increase the sustained virological response (SVR) up to 80% in patients infected with HCV genotype 1. The effects of triple therapies on dendritic cell (DC) compartment have not been investigated. In this study we evaluated the effect of telaprevir-based triple therapy on DC phenotype and function, and their possible association with treatment outcome.HCV+ patients eligible for telaprevir-based therapy were enrolled, and circulating DC frequency, phenotype, and function were evaluated by flow-cytometry. The antiviral activity of plasmacytoid DC was also tested.In SVR patients, myeloid DC frequency transiently decreased, and returned to baseline level when telaprevir was stopped. Moreover, an up-regulation of CD80 and CD86 on mDC was observed in SVR patients as well as an improvement of IFN-α production by plasmacytoid DC, able to inhibit in vitro HCV replication.



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