Ribavirin enhancement of hepatitis C virus core antigen-specific type 1 T helper cell response correlates with the increased IL-12 level
Journal
Journal of Hepatology
Journal Volume
33
Journal Issue
5
Pages
791-798
Date Issued
2000
Author(s)
Abstract
Backgrounds/Aims: Combination IFN-α and ribavirin therapy for hepatitis C virus-infected patients has been reported to improve the response rate up to 50%. In this study, we aimed to study further the role of ribavirin in hepatitis C virus-specific immune responses. Methods: We immunized mice with hepatitis C virus core protein with or without different concentrations of ribavirin. Forty days after immunization, hepatitis C virus-specific humane responses were followed in these mice. Results: We found that the mice immunized with core antigen once every 2 weeks and 0.5 mg ribavirin every day showed higher levels of core-specific IgG2 compared with those mice immunized with core antigen only. In addition, core antigen-stimulated spleen cells produced higher levels of T helper type 1 cytokines and the core-specific cytotoxic T cell activity also increased significantly. Furthermore, lipopolysaccharide-stimulated peritoneal cells produced higher levels of IL-12 in ribavirin-treated mice, and peritoneal cells isolated from naive mice also produced significantly higher level of IL-12 when cultured with ribavirin. Conclusions: Ribavirin may significantly promote the T helper type 1 immune response in vivo, and, furthermore, the effect of ribavirin on IL-12 level produced by accessory cells may contribute to the T helper type 1 enhancing effect.
Subjects
Hepatitis C virus; IL-12; Ribavirin; Type 1 T helper cell
SDGs
Other Subjects
alpha interferon; interleukin 12; lipopolysaccharide; ribavirin; virus antigen; animal experiment; animal model; antigen specificity; article; cell activity; cell isolation; cytotoxic T lymphocyte; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; female; helper cell; hepatitis C; immune response; immunization; mouse; natural killer cell; nonhuman; peritoneum cell; phenotype; priority journal; spleen cell
Publisher
Blackwell Munksgaard
Type
journal article