HCV患者外周血单个核细胞蛋白质表达质谱分析

目的:应用比较蛋白质组学的方法分析丙型肝炎患者外周血单个核细胞蛋白质表达模式的变化及寻找丙型肝炎相关生物标记分子,进一步识别鉴定其差异表达蛋白质,分析其对丙型肝炎慢性化机制的意义.方法:应用固相化pH梯度双向凝胶电泳(2-DE)分离健康者(10)及HCV患者(28)PBMC的总蛋白质,凝胶银染显色后,PDQuest图像分析软件进行比较分析、识别差异表达的蛋白质,应用基质辅助激光解吸电离飞行时间质谱(MALDI-TOF-MS)获得差异蛋白点的肽质指纹图谱,通过SWISS-PROT数据库鉴定蛋白质.结果:得到两张2-DE图谱,HCV患者及健康者PBMC凝胶的蛋白质点数分别为625及614;初步筛选出HCV患者与健康者存在明显差异的12个蛋白点,经质谱分析,初步鉴定了10种蛋白质.这些差异蛋白质包括病毒蛋白、蛋白质合成与分解、三大代谢相关酶类、细胞结构相关蛋白质以及信号转导相关蛋白质.结论:应用2-DE及MALDI-TOF-MS方法建立了HCV患者PBMC双向凝胶电泳图谱,分离并初步鉴定了10种与HCV感染相关的差异表达的蛋白质,为研究HCV慢性化相关机制提供新的线索.     

STUDY ON PERIPHERAL BLOOD MONONUCLEAR CELL(PBMC) PROLIFERATIVE RESPONSES TO DIFFERENT HCV ANTIGENS IN PATIENTS WITH HEPATITIS C

为探讨丙型肝炎(HC)病人细胞免疫功能和丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)的致病机制及机体对其免疫保护作用,收集24例HC病人(急性3例,慢性21例),用3H-TdR掺入法研究病人外周血单个核细胞(PBMC)对不同HCV抗原增殖反应,并用流式细胞仪(FACS)检测了PBMC中CD4+、CD8+淋巴细胞亚群在HCV抗原刺激后的变化.结果:HC病人PBMC对HCV合成肽CP9,NS和基因重组抗原C,E1,E2,NS3刺激后出现不同程度增殖反应,刺激指数(SI)分别为1.69±0.51,1.61±0.54,1.68±0.58,1.49士0.44,1.44±0.44和1.33±0.33.3例急性HC中2例病人的PBMC对HCV抗原呈有效增殖反应(SI≥2.1),且血清HCVRNA阴转伴ALT正常.细胞表型分析显示:增殖的细胞表型是CD4+淋巴细胞,而CD8+淋巴细胞增殖反应较弱.结论:HC病人PBMC确实存在对HCV抗原的增殖反应;CD4+淋巴细胞比CD8+淋巴细胞增殖反应要强,急性HC病人PBMC对HCV抗原有效的增殖反应预示可能有良好的临床愈合.     

慢性丙型肝炎合并非酒精性脂肪肝患者PBMC中TNF-α的研究

目的 通过研究慢性丙型肝炎合并非酒精性脂肪肝患者外周血单个核细胞(PBMC)中肿瘤坏死因子(TNF-α)的表达,初步探讨慢性丙型肝炎患者合并非酒精性脂肪肝的发病机制.方法 将20例慢性丙型肝炎合并非酒精性脂肪肝患者、20例单纯的慢性丙型肝炎患者及10例正常对照PBMC体外培养72 h后,用ELISA法检测培养上清中TNF-α的浓度.结果 (1)慢性丙型肝炎合并非酒精性脂肪肝患者组、单纯的慢性丙型肝炎患者组PBMC培养上清中TNF-α的水平较正常对照组明显升高(P<0.05).(2)慢性丙型肝炎合并非酒精性脂肪肝患者组PBMC培养上清中TNF-α的水平较单纯的慢性丙型肝炎患者组也明显升高(P<0.01).结论 TNF-α是导致慢性丙型肝炎患者合并非酒精性脂肪肝的一个重要因素.     

慢性丙型肝炎患者外周血单个核细胞中趋化因子水平与干扰素治疗的关系

目的了解丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)慢性感染患者外周血单个核细胞(PBMC)中趋化因子mRNA表达水平及与α干扰素(IFN-α)治疗的关系. 方法以实时反转录-聚合酶链反应(real-time RT-PCR)法动态观察35例慢性丙型肝炎患者接受IFN联合利巴韦林治疗前、治疗3个月、6个月后其外周血单个核细胞中白细胞介素-8(IL-8)、T细胞活化蛋白-3(TCA-3/I-309)、γ干扰素诱生的单核因子(MIG)、胸腺及活化调节趋化因子(TRAC)和巨噬细胞源性趋化因子(MDC)的mRNA表达水平. 结果治疗前慢性丙型肝炎患者IL-8、MIG、TARC和I-309的mRNA表达水平均高于正常对照组(n=12),差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05或P＜0.001).治疗过程中IL-8、MIG、TARC的表达水平有显著下降.治疗前的IL-8、MIG和MDC的表达水平在HCV高复制组(HCV RNA＞106 copies/ml,n=21)和HCV低复制组(HCV RNA＜106 copies/ml,n=14)之间差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05),高复制组的表达水平明显高于低复制组.然而上述5个趋化因子的治疗前表达水平在丙氨酸转氨酶(ALT)异常组(n=24)和ALT正常组(n=11)之间差异无统计学意义,与干扰素疗效和病毒基因型也无相关性(P＞0.05). 结论 HCV慢性感染能诱导外周血单个核细胞表达IL-8、I-309、MIG和TARC.IFN控制感染后,IL-8、MIG和TARC的表达下降.治疗前的上述趋化因子表达水平与干扰素疗效和肝组织的炎症损伤程度无直接相关性.     

NBD多肽预处理对局灶脑缺血再灌注大鼠脑内核因子-κB核转位活化的影响

目的探讨NBD多肽预处理对局灶脑缺血再灌注大鼠大脑缺血皮质细胞内核因子-κB活化的影响。方法将SD健康雄性大鼠（280～300g）共36只随机分为假手术组（n=6）、模型组（n=15）、药物组（n=15）。缺血模型制备前2h经右侧侧脑室注射NBD多肽25μl进行预处理。运用改良线栓法制备右侧大脑中动脉闭塞再灌注大鼠模型。运用免疫组化检测再灌注后72hNF-κBp65在胞浆／胞核的蛋白表达变化;运用免疫荧光定位及Western印迹（半定量）检测NF-κB p65及IκBα的蛋白表达情况。结果免疫组化结果显示与假手术组比较,再灌注72h模型组胞浆／胞核内NF-κB p65大量表达（P〈0．05）;NBD多肽预处理后NF-κB p65主要在胞浆表达,胞核内表达明显减少（P〈0．05）;免疫荧光双标定位及Western印迹半定量检测显示模型组胞浆／胞核内NF-κB p65蛋白均大量表达（P〈0．05）,IκBα蛋白呈现低表达（P〈0．05）;NBD多肽预处理后胞核内NF-κB p65蛋白表达明显减少,主要以胞浆表达为主（P〈0．05）,IκBα胞浆／胞核内表达显著增加（P〈0．05）。结论局灶脑缺血再灌注72hNF-κB p65蛋白胞核表达明显增加．NF-κB核转位／活化过程被激活：NBD多肽预处理后通过增加胞核／胞浆内IκBα表达有效阻止NF-κB的核转位／活化过程,从而有效地减轻再灌注后72h局灶脑缺血再灌注对脑组织的损害。     

慢性荨麻疹患者外周血单个核细胞Toll样受体和DC-SIGN的检测和分析

目的检测慢性荨麻疹(CU)患者外周血单个核细胞(PBMC)Toll样受体2(TLR2)、TLR7、TLR9与树突状细胞特异性细胞间黏附分子-3-结合非整合素分子(DC-SIGN)的表达。方法分离CU患者20例与正常对照组20例外周血PBMC,部分细胞提取RNA,采用实时荧光定量逆转录聚合酶链反应检测TLR2、TLR7、TLR9和DC-SIGN mRNA表达,采用流式细胞术检测剩余PBMC中TLR2、TLR7、TLR9和DC-SIGN的蛋白表达。结果 CU患者PBMC的DC-SIGN mRNA表达明显低于正常对照组,差异具有统计学意义(P0.01)。CU患者PBMC TLR2蛋白表达高于正常对照组(P0.05),DC-SIGN蛋白表达低于正常对照组(P0.05)。结论 CU患者PBMC的DC-SIGN表达降低,TLR2蛋白表达增强。     

慢性乙型肝炎外周血单个核细胞内HBV-DNA与血清HBV-DNA及HBeAg表达关系的研究

目的研究慢性乙型肝炎患者外周血单个核细胞(PBMC)内HBV-DNA和血清中HBV-DNA表达量、e抗原表达的关系。方法采用聚合酶链反应(PCR)检测208例慢性乙型肝炎患者PBMC内HBV-DNA,应用荧光定量聚合酶链反应(FQ-PCR)检测血清中HBV DNA含量,应用酶联免疫吸附(ELISA)法检测乙肝血清标志物。结果208例慢性乙型肝炎患者PBMC内HBV-DNA阳性106例、阴性102例。HBV-DNA(PBMC)阳性组、阴性组血清HBV-DNA定量≥1.0E5患者比例分别为91.5%(97例)、45.1%(46例)(χ2=52.12,P<0.01);HBeAg阳性率分别为76.4%(81例)、50.9%(52例)(χ2=21.55,P<0.01)。结论PBMC内HBV-DNA的检测与血清中HBV-DNA定量检测及HBeAg阳性率存在明显的正相关。提示血清HBV-DNA高载量的HBeAg阳性患者外周血单个核细胞感染HBV-DNA明显增加。     

丙型病毒性肝炎患者PBMC mIL-2R的表达

目的　探讨丙型病毒性肝炎患者膜白介素 2受体 (mIL 2R)表达水平及其在丙肝转归中的作用。方法　用PCR和生物素 链霉亲和素法对 78例丙肝患者外周血单个核细胞 (PBMC)分别进行HCV RNA和植物血凝素诱导前后mIL 2R的检测。结果　丙肝患者PBMC静息期和诱导期mIL 2R表达水平分别为 (2 .94± 0 .88) %、(31.5 3± 3.38) % ,与正常对照相比 ,差异有显著性 (P <0 .0 1)。其中 ,急性丙肝患者静息期和诱导期mIL 2R表达水平分别为 (3.2 5± 0 .94 ) %、(32 .82± 3.84 ) % ,慢性丙肝患者静息期和诱导期mIL 2R表达水平分别为 (2 .77± 0 .84 ) %、(30 .97± 3.16 ) % ,两者相比差异有显著性 (P <0 .0 5 )。PBMC内HCV RNA(+)者静息期和诱导期mIL 2R表达水平分别为 (2 .37± 1.16 ) %、(30 .4 1± 4 .0 1) % ,PBMC内HCV RNA(- )者静息期和诱导期mIL 2R表达水平分别为 (3.2 1± 0 .80 ) %、(32 .15± 3.0 9) % ,两者相比差异有显著性 (P <0 .0 5 )。结论　丙肝患者体内mIL 2R水平降低 ,与丙肝的慢性化程度似有一定关系 ;HCV侵入PBMC后可进一步抑制mIL 2R的表达     

抗丙型肝炎病毒非结构蛋白NS3单链抗体的制备及免疫组织化学研究

目的 研制抗丙型肝炎病毒（HCV）非结构蛋白NS3的人源噬菌体单链抗体,并探讨其在临床诊断中的应用价值。方法 以重组的丙型肝炎病毒非结构蛋白NS3为固相抗原,利用亲和筛选的原理,从噬菌体抗体库中经过5轮“吸附－洗脱－扩增”的筛选过程及酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）、斑点免疫杂交试验和DNA序列分析,获得HCV NS3的人源单链抗体;用该抗体与不同来源的HCV NS3抗原进行反应;对10例石蜡包埋的丙型肝炎患者肝组织进行免疫组化鉴定。结果 ELISA结果表明,所制备的HCV NS3人源单链抗体能与不同来源的HCV NS3抗原特异性结合（吸光度A值为1.38）;免疫组化结果表明,该抗体能够特异性识别丙型肝炎患者肝组织HCV NS3抗原,与正常肝组织及乙型肝炎病毒（HBV)的表面抗原均无交叉反应。结论 此法制备的单链抗体亲和性好,特异性强,且制备方法简便,周期短,可用于HCV NS3病原的检测。     

系统性红斑狼疮患者外周血单个核细胞中急性期蛋白反应因子的表达

目的　探讨系统性红斑狼疮 (SLE)患者外周血单个核细胞 (PBMC)中急性期蛋白反应因子 (APRF)的活性水平 ,以及IL 6和IL 10对APRF表达的影响。方法　采用凝胶阻滞电泳 (EMSA)的方法检测 4 0例SLE患者及 2 0例正常对照组PBMC中DNA结合蛋白APRF的表达水平。结果　所有活动期SLE患者均出现APRF电泳条带 ,17例非活动期SLE患者中有 10例出现APRF条带 ,而正常人对照组无 1例出现。 7例未出现APRF电泳条带的非活动期SLE患者PBMC加IL 10处理后均出现不同程度的APRF表达 ,而加IL 6处理时仍未出现APRF电泳条带。结论　SLE患者存在APRF的异常表达。在SLE中 ,IL 10信号转导途径中的某些调控机制 (如蛋白激酶 )可能发生改变 ,从而使得核内的APRF激活转录 ,提示IL 10很可能是通过APRF在SLE的发病机制中起作用 ,相反IL 6在SLE发病的作用机制很可能与APRF无关。     

Prominent proliferative response of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to a recombinant non-structural (NS3) protein of hepatitis C virus in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

The proliferative response of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) to a recombinant non-structural (NS3) protein of hepatitis C virus (HCV) was studied in 41 patients with chronic hepatitis C. Of them, 28 had chronic persistent hepatitis (CPH) and 13 chronic active hepatitis (CAH). The positive proliferation rate of PBMC to the recombinant NS3 protein, T9Ag, was 66% in the 41 patients (77% in CAH versus 61% in CPH; P > 0.05) when stimulation index (SI) = 4 was set as the cut-off value. However, mean SI of CAH patients was significantly higher than that of CPH patients (8.3 +/- 5.2 versus 5.1 +/- 3.6; P < 0.05). Six other chronic hepatitis patients who were repeatedly negative for anti-HCV antibody but positive for serum HCV RNA also had an SI of > or = 4.0. The frequency of cellular immune response to the T9Ag is among the highest results obtained by using HCV antigens tested so far. Our studies thus indicate that NS3 is an immunologically important region of HCV for T cells. Moreover, the proliferative response to T9Ag may help to establish hepatitis C etiology in chronic hepatitis patients who are seronegative with currently available anti-HCV assays.     

Diagnostic possibilities of an immunoenzyme test-system for determining the spectrum of antibodies to structural and nonstructural hepatitis C virus antigens

A new enzyme immunoassay EIA-HCV-Spectr test system constructed on the base of recombinant proteins and synthetic peptides allows separate detection of antibodies to E1/E2, core, HS3, NS4, and NS5 antigens of hepatitis C virus (HCV). The system is highly specific and more sensitive than the test systems used in screening studies, which allows its use as a final test for antiHCV antibodies. Antibodies to various HCV antigens were analyzed using this test system in patients with acute and chronic hepatitis C and asymptomatic donors with antiHCV. In acute hepatitis C during the first-second week after clinical manifestation, antibodies to nonstructural virus proteins are detected 3-4 times less often than in chronic hepatitis C. Acute hepatitis C is characterized by the presence of antibodies only to core antigen (66%). In chronic condition combinations of antibodies to structural and nonstructural HCV antigens predominate: core + NS4, core + NS3 + NS4, core + NS3 + NS5, core + NS4 + NS5, and core + NS3 + NS4 + NS5. In asymptomatic donors with antiHCV and in patients with chronic hepatitis C the spectra of antibodies were similar in 45.7% cases.     

Hepatitis C virus proteins in the liver cells in acute hepatitis C: their association with liver damage and with the outcome of the disease

The accumulation of individual hepatitis C virus (HCV) proteins in the liver cells of patients with acute hepatitis C (AHC) and their association with the course and outcome of the disease were studied. AHC protein expression in the cryostat liver sections from 20 patients with AHC was estimated by immunohistochemical assay using original monoclonal antibodies to 5 HCV proteins (core, NS3, NS4A, NS4B, and NS5A). The results of HCV detection in the patients were compared with their biochemical, clinical, and morphological findings. HCV proteins were totally revealed in the livers of all the patients, individual proteins were identified with a frequency of 89-95%, which is significantly more than those in patients with chronic hepatitis C. The hepatic expression of core protein was shown to inversely correlate with the duration of an acute period. There was a direct relationship between the accumulation of core, NS3, and NS5A proteins and the liver tissue damage caused by stepwise necrosis rather than intralobular necrosis. The presumed convalescence was ascertained to be associated with the larger count of hepatocytes containing the proteins NS4A and NS3 early after AHC manifestation.     

Acute hepatitis C in the presence of chronic HBV infection

Acute HCV superinfection was studied in 23 patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection. HBsAg, anti-HCV (C-100, core, NS3, NS5) were detected in patients' sera at first investigation. Predominant replication of HBV DNA was detected in the sera of 68% patients and HCV RNA in only 24% patients. The clinical course of acute hepatitis C in patients with chronic HBV infection in general corresponded to HCV monoinfection except for more pronounced biochemical shifts and shorter intoxication. The role of HBV and HCV in infectious process is discussed.     

丙型肝炎患者外周血单个核细胞HCV感染的电镜研究

目的 以常规电镜和免疫电镜技术,发现和证实慢性丙型肝炎患者外周血单个核细胞９ＰＢＭＣｓ）内丙型肝炎病毒（ＨＣＶ）颗粒。试图在病毒形态学和形态发生学上证实ＰＢＭＣｓ的ＨＣＶ感染和复制。方法 以逆转录多聚酶链反应（ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ）和免疫组织化学方法,分别检测２８例患者ＰＢＭＣｓ内ＨＣＶ ＲＮＡ和ＨＣＶＡｇ,对其中阳性标本重点进行电镜研究。结果 ＨＣＶ ＲＮＡ和ＨＣＶ Ａｇ阳性检出率分别为７７．２７％（１     

Steatosis and intrahepatic hepatitis C virus in chronic hepatitis.

Hepatic steatosis has been reported as one of the characteristics which discriminates hepatitis C from other forms of hepatitis, besides lymphoid follicles and bile duct damage. However, it is unclear whether or not the presence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) itself is associated with the development of steatosis. The possibility that the HCV itself is directly related to the development of steatosis was examined. The intrahepatic core protein levels, as a marker of the HCV load, were correlated with the presence of steatosis in 43 patients with chronic hepatitis C. Among 43 patients studied by Western blotting, the core protein was detected in the liver in 27 (62.8%). On the other hand, hepatic steatosis was observed in 21 (48.8%) of the 43 patients. Importantly, the core protein was detectable in 19 (90.4%) of the 21 patients with steatosis, while it was detected in only 8 (36.4%) of the 22 patients without steatosis (P = 0.008). However, serum HCV-RNA levels as determined by the Amplicor monitor were not significantly different between patients with and without steatosis. Multivariate analysis showed that the serum alanine aminotransferase level (P = 0. 013), body mass index (P = 0.038), and intrahepatic HCV core protein positivity (P = 0.038) were the independent parameters best predictive of steatosis. These results indicate a close relationship between intrahepatic HCV and the development of steatosis, and suggest a possible role of the HCV itself or core protein in the pathogenesis of steatosis in human chronic hepatitis C.     

Comparative evaluation of the total hepatitis C virus core antigen,branched-DNA,and amplicor monitor assays in determining viremia for patients with chronic hepatitis C during interferon plus ribavirin combination therapy

An assay prototype designed to detect and quantify total hepatitis C virus [HCV] core antigen (HCV core Ag) protein in serum and plasma in the presence or absence of anti-HCV antibodies has been recently developed by Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics. The aim of the study was to evaluate the sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility of the Total HCV core Ag assay in comparison with two quantitative assays for HCV RNA: Quantiplex HCV RNA 2.0 (bDNA v2.0) or Versant HCV RNA 3.0 (bDNA v3.0) assays and the Cobas Amplicor HCV Monitor version 2.0 (HCM v2.0) test. We have studied samples of a well-characterized panel and samples from patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with interferon alone or with ribavirin. We have also compared the kinetics of HCV core Ag and HCV RNA in the follow-up of treated patients. The HCV core Ag assay exhibited linear behavior across samples from different genotypes. The coefficients of variation for intra- and interassay performance were 5.11 and 9.95%, respectively. The specificity of the assay tested in blood donors was 99.5%. Samples from HCV-infected patients showed that the correlation between the HCV core Ag and the two HCV RNA quantitative assays (bDNA and HCM v2.0) was 0.8 and 0.7, respectively. This correlation was maintained across different genotypes of HCV (r(2) = 0.64 to 0.94). Baseline HCV core Ag values were significantly lower in sustained responders to interferon (IFN) than in other groups of patients (5.31 log(10) [10(4) pg/ml] versus 5.99 log(10) [10(4) pg/ml]; P < 0.001). In patients treated with IFN or combination therapy, we found an association between a decrease of more than 2 log IU/ml in viral load, undetectable HCV core Ag, and sustained response. Among sustained responders to IFN alone or combination therapy and among relapsers after IFN alone, 84 out of 101 (83.2%) had undetectable HCV core Ag, and 76 out of 96 (79.2%) had a viral load decrease of >/=2 log IU/ml, after 1 month of treatment. In conclusion, the Total HCV core Ag assay is a new useful test for the detection of HCV viremia and the monitoring of patients treated with IFN alone or in combination with ribavirin.     

Positive and negative strand of hepatitis C virus RNA sequences in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with chronic hepatitis C: No correlation with viral genotypes 1b, 2a,and 2b

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has many genotypes which are closely associated with the severity of chronic hepatitis and the response to antiviral therapy. Although HCV is essentially hepatotropic, several lines of evidence suggest that this virus can infect peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in most patients with chronic HCV infection. However, the methods used previously to detect negative-strand HCV RNA have been questioned, and the PBMC tropism of different HCV genotypes remains unknown. A stringent method was used to investigate the prevalence of positive- and negative-strand HCV RNA in the PBMC of 106 patients with chronic hepatitis C and to analyze the influence of HCV genotype on the tropism of PBMC. HCV type 1b was the predominant strain in the patients. Positive-strand RNA in PBMC was detected in 83 (78%) and 40% had negative-strand RNA. The demographic and clinical features were comparable among different patients grouped by the replication status of HCV in the plasma and PBMC samples. In addition, there was no significant difference of PBMC tropism between type 1b and non-1b HCV. In summary, HCV does indeed infect actively the PBMC of chronic hepatitis C patients and such infection is not correlated to the pathogenesis of liver cell damage. Moreover, the genotype is not associated specifically with PBMC tropism of HCV. J. Med. Virol. 52:270–274, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Differential expansion of T-cell receptor variable beta subsets after antigenic stimulation in patients with different outcomes of hepatitis C infection

Persistent antigenic stimulation during chronic hepatitis C may alter the T-cell receptor variable chain beta (TCR BV) repertoire as well as the cytokine responses of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-specific T lymphocytes. We analysed the distribution of the TCR BV subsets 2.1, 3.1, 5.1, 6.1, 8, 13.1, 13.6, 14.1, 17.1, 21.3 in relation to intracytoplasmic expression of interleukin-2, interferon-gamma, interleukin-4 and interleukin-10. Using flow cytometry, CD45RO+ memory T cells of 27 patients with chronic hepatitis C, eight patients with resolved HCV infection and 16 non-HCV-related controls were studied with and without stimulation by the HCV core, NS3, NS4, NS5a and NS5b proteins. Patients with chronic and resolved hepatitis C differed by larger basal TCR BV2.1+, BV6.1+, BV17.1+ and BV21.3+ subsets in chronic hepatitis C, which were correlated to the numbers of T cells with spontaneous interleukin-2 and interferon-gamma production (r=0.51-0.73, P<0.05). Upon HCV-specific stimulation these subsets did not expand, whereas a marked in vitro expansion of TCR BV8+ T cells in response to all HCV proteins was selectively noted in chronic hepatitis C (P<0.05). This expansion of TCR BV8+ memory T cells was significantly correlated to HCV-induced interleukin-10 expression (r=0.58-0.98, P<0.01). Thus, differential involvement of selected TCR BV subsets may be related to the outcome of HCV infection.