Immunomodulation of CXCL10 Secretion by Hepatitis C Virus: Could CXCL10 Be a Prognostic Marker of Chronic Hepatitis C?

J Immunol Res. 2019 Aug 8:2019:5878960. doi: 10.1155/2019/5878960. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand (CXCL)10 and other CXCR3 chemokines are involved in the pathogenesis of acute and "chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection" (CHC). Here, we review the scientific literature about HCV and CXCL10. The combination of circulating CXCL10 and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in IL-28B can identify patients with acute HCV infection most likely to undergo spontaneous HCV clearance and those in need of early antiviral therapy. In CHC, the HCV and intrahepatic interferon- (IFN-) γ drive a raised CXCL10 expression by sinusoidal endothelium and hepatocytes, thereby inducing the recruitment of CXCR3-expressing T cells into the liver; thus, CXCL10 plays an important role in the development of necroinflammation and fibrosis. Increased CXCL10 was significantly associated with the presence of active vasculitis in HCV-associated cryoglobulinemia, or with autoimmune thyroiditis in CHC. Pretreatment CXCL10 levels are predictive of early virological response and sustained virological response (SVR) to IFN-α and ribavirin and may be useful in the evaluation of candidates for therapy. The occurrence of SNPs adjacent to IL-28B (rs12979860, rs12980275, and rs8099917), and CXCL10 below 150 pg/mL, independently predicted the first phase viral decline and rapid virological response, which in turn independently predicted SVR. Directly acting antiviral agents-mediated clearance of HCV is associated with the loss of intrahepatic immune activation by IFN-α, associated by decreased levels of CXCL10. In conclusion, CXCL10 is an important marker of HCV clearance and successful therapy in CHC patients. Whether CXCL10 is a novel therapeutic target in CHC will be evaluated.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
  • Chemokine CXCL10 / blood*
  • Chemokine CXCL10 / genetics
  • Hepatitis C / immunology
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / diagnosis
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / drug therapy
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunomodulation
  • Interferon-alpha / therapeutic use
  • Interferon-gamma / therapeutic use
  • Interferons / genetics
  • Liver / pathology
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Prognosis
  • Receptors, CXCR3 / immunology
  • Ribavirin / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • CXCR3 protein, human
  • Chemokine CXCL10
  • interferon-lambda, human
  • Interferon-alpha
  • Receptors, CXCR3
  • Ribavirin
  • Interferon-gamma
  • Interferons