HCV RNA sequences in eosinophils of chronic HCV-infected patients

In the present study we examined the presence of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA sequences in eosinophils (Eos) isolated from 10 chronically HCV-infected patients. At the time of the study patients showed levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotranferase (AST) above the normal upper limits (129 IU/L +/- 77 and 56.2 IU/L +/- 40, respectively). Absolute and relative total leukocyte and Eos counts were within the normal range. Highly purified eosinophils (> 98 %) were obtained by Ficoll-Hypaque (d = 1.114 g/mL) and Percoll gradient centrifugation following by immunomagnetic absorbtion to cell specific antibodies. Mononuclear cells (MN) and neutrophils (Neu) were also purified from these patients. PCR analysis of these cell populations revealed the presence HCV RNA sequences in 4/10 Eos, 6/10 MN and 2/10 Neu cell samples. The results suggest that, in addition to MN and Neo cells, Eos might also be susceptible to HCV infection.