Interferon-α reduces insulin resistance and β-cell secretion in responders among patients with chronic hepatitis B and C
Journal
Journal of Endocrinology
Journal Volume
178
Journal Issue
3
Pages
457-465
Date Issued
2003
Abstract
This study aimed at elucidating the effects of interferon (IFN)-α on glucose metabolism in patients with chronic hepatitis B and C infections. Twenty-eight biopsy-proven patients with chronic hepatitis B (ten cases) and hepatitis C (18 cases) were given IFN-α for a total of 24 weeks. The patients received a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), glucagon stimulation test, tests for type 1 diabetes-related autoantibodies and an insulin suppression test before and after IFN-α therapy. Ten of the 28 patients responded to IFN-α therapy. Steady-state plasma glucose of the insulin suppression test decreased significantly in responders (13.32 ± 1.48 (S.E.M.) vs 11.33 ± 1.19 mmol/l, P=0.0501) but not in non-responders (12.29 ± 1.24 vs 11.11 ± 0.99 mmol/l, P=0.2110) immediately after completion of IFN-α treatment. In the oral glucose tolerance test, no significant difference was observed in plasma glucose in either responders (10.17 ± 0.23 vs 10.03 ± 0.22 mmol/l) or non-responders (10.11 ± 0.22 vs 9.97 ± 0.21 mmol/l) 3 months after completion of IFN-α treatment. However, significant differences were noted in C-peptide in both responders (2.90 ± 0.13 vs 2.20 ± 0.09 nmol/l, P=0.0040) and non-responders (2.45 ± 0.11 vs 2.22 ± 0.08 nmol/l, P=0.0287) before vs after treatment. The changes of C-peptide in an OGTT between responders and non-responders were also significantly different (P=0.0028), with responders reporting a greater reduction in C-peptide. No case developed autoantibodies during the treatment. In patients who were successfully treated with IFN-α, insulin sensitivity improved and their plasma glucose stayed at the same level without secreting as much insulin from islet β-cells.
SDGs
Other Subjects
alanine aminotransferase; alpha2b interferon; autoantibody; C peptide; glucagon; glucose; hemoglobin A1c; insulin; messenger RNA; octreotide; somatostatin derivative; virus DNA; adult; article; chronic hepatitis; clinical article; controlled study; drug mechanism; female; glucose blood level; glucose metabolism; hepatitis B; hepatitis C; human; human cell; human tissue; insulin dependent diabetes mellitus; insulin release; insulin resistance; insulin sensitivity; liver biopsy; male; oral glucose tolerance test; pancreas islet beta cell; priority journal; statistical analysis; steady state
Publisher
Society for Endocrinology
Type
journal article