[Features of proliferative response of T-cells on hepatitis c virus antigens in healthy individuals contacting with this virus].

Abstract Evaluation of CD3+ and CD3-/CD56+ proliferative response on hepatitis C virus antigens in healthy medical workers. The study included 15 medical workers with length of service of 2 and more years without common risk factors (blood and blood products transfusion, abdominal operations, invasive procedures, use of intravenous drugs). Control group consisted of 9 healthy individuals without risk factors. Peripheral mononuclears were isolated from blood and then incubated 72 hours in the presence of mitogen/PHA, Core+NS4 1b genotype HCV, NS4 HCV2a+3a genotypes or medium. Proliferative activity was registered by the presence of cell division marker ki67 by using FACS. The initial immunogram of medical workers differed from the control group by a significantly lower quantity of CD3+ lymphocytes, in particular CD3+/CD8+ population. Incubation with PHAresulted in a decrease of quantity of CD3+/ ki67+, CD4+/ki67+ and CD3-/CD56+/ki67+ in the medical workers group. Cultivation with HCV antigens resulted in a significant decrease of Treg (CD3+/CD25high/FoxP3+) and activated T-lymphocytes population in the case of stimulation by Core and NS4 1b genotype antigens. Analysis of cell response on virus antigens based on proliferative activity index detected significant differences only for CD8+/ki67+. Stimulation by Core and NS4 1b genotype antigens resulted in an increase of quantity of these cells whereas in the case of NS4 2a+3a genotypes their decrease was observed. The described changes may reflect exhaustion of cell reactivity due to extra antigen load in the group of medical workers, while differentiated immunologic shifts on hepatitis C viruses of various genotypes are noted.