Ribavirin enhances interferon-γ levels in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with interferon-α
Journal
Journal of Biomedical Science
Journal Volume
8
Journal Issue
6
Pages
484-491
Date Issued
2001
Author(s)
Abstract
Some patients with chronic hepatitis C respond to interferon (IFN)-α treatment, and the efficiency can be improved by combining it with ribavirin. The mechanism of this improvement is unknown. To investigate the effects of these two regimens on the immune responses in 51 patients with chronic hepatitis C, we examined the hepatitis C core antigen-specific proliferative response and cytokine production profiles, natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity and cytotoxic T cell function during treatment. The results are as follows: (1) both viral clearance and biochemical normalization occurred more frequently in patients receiving combination therapy; (2) the function of NK cells increased after treatment in the responders of both groups (p < 0.05); (3) the level of IFN-γ produced by hepatitis C core antigen-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells was higher in patients receiving combination therapy, especially in responders; (4) the core antigen-specific proliferative response decreased after treatment, and (5) in addition, the core-specific cytotoxic T cell activities of five responder patients also increased significantly after therapy. In conclusion, enhancement of immune responses, especially those related to type-1 T helper cell activity, may contribute to better efficacy in combining ribavirin with IFN-α for treatment of chronic hepatitis C. Copyright ? 2001 National Science Council, ROC and S. Karger AG, Basel.
SDGs
Other Subjects
gamma interferon; hepatitis C antigen; recombinant alpha2a interferon; ribavirin; adult; aged; article; biochemistry; cell activity; clinical trial; controlled clinical trial; controlled study; cytotoxicity; drug effect; drug efficacy; drug mechanism; female; hepatitis C; human; immune response; major clinical study; male; mononuclear cell; natural killer cell; priority journal; T lymphocyte; Adult; Aged; Antigens, CD4; Antigens, CD8; Chronic Disease; Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Hepatitis C; Humans; Interferon Type II; Interferon-alpha; Killer Cells, Natural; Male; Middle Aged; Ribavirin; RNA, Viral; Time Factors; Viral Core Proteins; Hepatitis C virus
Type
journal article