TY - JOUR T1 - Altered CD45 expression in C77G carriers influences immune function and outcome of hepatitis C infection JF - Journal of Medical Genetics JO - J Med Genet SP - 678 LP - 684 DO - 10.1136/jmg.2005.040485 VL - 43 IS - 8 AU - R Dawes AU - B Hennig AU - W Irving AU - S Petrova AU - S Boxall AU - V Ward AU - D Wallace AU - D C Macallan AU - M Thursz AU - A Hill AU - W Bodmer AU - P C L Beverley AU - E Z Tchilian Y1 - 2006/08/01 UR - http://jmg.bmj.com/content/43/8/678.abstract N2 - Background: A polymorphism in exon 4 (C77G) of CD45 that alters CD45 splicing has been associated with autoimmune and infectious diseases in humans. Objective: To investigate the effect of C77G in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected individuals and study the phenotype and function of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from healthy and hepatitis C infected C77G carriers. Results: C77G individuals showed an increased proportion of primed CD45RA and effector memory CD8 T cells and more rapid activation of the lymphocyte specific protein tyrosine kinase (Lck) following CD3 stimulation. Transgenic mice with CD45 expression mimicking that in human C77G variants had more activated/memory T cells, more rapid proliferative responses, and activation of Lck. Conclusions: Changes in CD45 isoform expression can alter immune function in human C77G variants and CD45 transgenic mice. The C77G allele may influence the outcome of HCV infection. ER -