Hepatitis C Virus–Specific CD4+T Cell Response after Liver Transplantation Occurs Early, Is Multispecific, Compartmentalizes to the Liver, and Does Not Correlate with Recurrent Disease

Abstract

The role of hepatitis C virus (HCV)–specific CD4⁺ T cells in recurrent HCV infection after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLTx) is unclear. In parallel, 73 intrahepatic and 73 blood-derived T cell lines were established from 34 patients. At a single cell level, virus-specific interferon (IFN)–γ production to various HCV proteins was determined by ELISPOT assay: 45 (62%) of 73 liver- or blood-derived T cell lines produced IFN-γ in response to one of the HCV antigens. HCV specificity was detected mainly in the liver (47% vs. 23% in the blood; P<.05, χ² test) and was detectable earlier (⩽6 months) significantly more often than later (>6 months) after OLTx (78% vs 49%; P<.05, χ² test). Histology, histologic activity index, liver enzymes, and virus load did not correlate with the occurrence of HCV-specific CD4⁺ T cells. Despite strong immunosuppressive treatment, OLTx recipients can develop an early, multispecific, preferentially intrahepatic CD4⁺ T cell response that decreases over time, making it a potential candidate target for novel therapeutic approaches in the transplant setting