Whole blood based cytokine release assay assesses cellular immunity in hepatitis E resolver patients

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is being recognized as a major concern in developed as well as industrialized countries, especially for immunocompromised patients at risk of developing chronic hepatitis E.

OBJECTIVE:

We developed an HEV specific interferon gamma release assay (IGRA) for assessing T cell responsiveness to HEV antigens in resolved hepatitis E patients (RHE).

METHODS:

8 RHE patients and 13 HEV seronegative healthy controls (HC) were tested for IFNγ- and IL2-secretion in whole blood after challenge with recombinant HEV ORF2 genotype 1 and ORF2 genotype 3 antigens.

RESULTS:

The developed IGRA test differentiated by trend between the RHE group and HEV seronegative HC. RHE patients showed a stronger IL2 response to ORF2 genotype 1 or genotype 3 (180±47 and 171±39 pg/ml) compared to HC (96±34 pg/ml and 65±20 pg/ml). IFNγ responses were negligible.

CONCLUSIONS:

HEV specific IGRAs using IL2 as a marker should help to further clarify prior exposure to HEV.