Decreased Phorbol Myristate Acetate-Induced Release of Tumor Necrosis Factor- and Interleukin-l from Peripheral Blood Monocytes of Patients Chronically Infected with Hepatitis C Virus

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCY) has been detected in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from persons chronically infected with HCY. Reports describe altered monocytic function during HCY infection; however, the immunologic consequences of HCY tropism for human macro phages are not well defined. Thus, the possibility that HCY infection of monocytes may alter patterns of cytokine release was investigated. The in vitro secretion of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (lL)-β in response to phorbol myristate acetate-stimulated monocytes and PBMC of subjects chronically infected or not infected with HCY was compared. TNF-α and IL-1β release were suppressed in cells from infected subjects. Although virus-induced immunosuppression is not a major clinical syndrome of HCY infection, the findings support a hypothesis that HCV can induce selective defects in antigen-presenting cells that may enhance the ability of HCY to persist despite he presence of cytotoxic killer cells and antibody directed against HCY.