Differences in Antibody Repertoire in Hepatitis C Infections
Author Information
Author(s): Vito Racanelli, Claudia Brunetti, Valli De Re, Laura Caggiari, Mariangela De Zorzi, Patrizia Leone, Federico Perosa, Angelo Vacca, Franco Dammacco
Primary Institution: University of Bari Medical School
Hypothesis
How does HCV infection affect the antibody repertoire and what molecular features are associated with viral clearance or chronic infection?
Conclusion
The study found that individuals who spontaneously resolved HCV infection had a less diverse antibody repertoire compared to those with chronic infections.
Supporting Evidence
- The frequency of antibody gene usage varied significantly between patients who resolved HCV and those with chronic infection.
- Patients who resolved HCV had fewer VH, D, and JH gene segments in their antibody genes.
- Greater clonal evolution was observed in memory B cells from patients who resolved HCV compared to those with chronic infection.
Takeaway
Some people can fight off the hepatitis C virus on their own, while others can't, and this study looked at how their immune systems are different.
Methodology
The study sequenced the V(D)J region of B cells from patients with resolved and chronic HCV infections and healthy donors.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the non-specific selection of B cell populations.
Limitations
The study had a small sample size and did not select memory B cells for antigen specificity.
Participant Demographics
Participants included 6 Caucasian persons who resolved HCV infection and 9 Caucasian patients with chronic HCV infection.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p=0.002
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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