Seven amino acid peptide mimic from HVR1 of HCV influences cytokine profile of immune cells

ObjectiveTo investigate the actions of cytokine profile in the immune cells by a seven amino acid peptide mimic from HVR1 of HCV (GQTYTSG, named 7P).MethodsThe peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 17 healthy blood donors were stimulated with 7P, and the cytokine levels in CD4+CD8−, CD4−CD8+ T cells, NK, NKT cells were analyzed by the intracellular cytokine staining.ResultsThe frequency of cells which secreted interferon-γ (IFN-γ) was found to be significantly increased in all cells, interleukin-10(IL-10) was significantly increased in CD4+CD8−, CD4− CD8+ T cells but decreased in NK, NKT cells, and tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-α) was decreased in CD4+CD8−, CD4− CD8+ but increased in NK cells.Conclusion7P could induce a cytokine profile in different immune cells in vitro and there was some difference between the CD4+CD8−, CD4−CD8+ T cells which represented the adaptive immunity cells and NK, NKT cells which represented the innate immunity cells. This kind of variation of cytokine profile might contribute to anti-virus and anti-inflammatory immune reaction.