Interferon‐γ Response by Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells to Hepatitis C Virus Core Antigen Is Reduced in Patients with Liver Fibrosis

Abstract

Liver fibrosis was correlated with immunological parameters. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with low fibrosis scores had more [corrected] interferon (IFN)-gamma-producing cells than did patients with higher fibrosis scores, when stimulated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) core antigen. Irrespective of liver fibrosis score, cells from all cytomegalovirus (CMV)-seropositive patients had similar IFN-gamma responses, when stimulated by CMV antigen, so patients with fibrosis did not have a broad-spectrum immunodeficiency. IFN-gamma response by PBMCs to HCV core antigen may provide a useful marker of the severity of liver disease in patients with hepatitis C.