Changes of serum neopterin, beta 2-microglobulin and interferon-gamma in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with interferon-alpha 2b.
OBJECTIVE
Treatment with interferon (IFN) reduces viral replication and normalizes aminotransferase levels in a significant percentage of patients with non-A, non-B hepatitis or hepatitis C. Soluble immune activation markers were evaluated in patients with hepatitis.


METHODS
Serum concentrations of soluble immune activation markers neopterin and beta 2-microglobulin (B2M) were compared to endogenous IFN-gamma levels in 17 patients with chronic hepatitis C before, during and after 9-months of treatment with IFN-alpha 2b.


RESULTS
Before therapy some patients had increased concentrations of the studied variables. During therapy neopterin and B2M concentrations further increased whereas IFN-gamma decreased. IFN-gamma and neopterin levels were correlated before but not during therapy. The correlations between neopterin and B2M were significant throughout the study.


CONCLUSIONS
The data indicate that IFN-gamma decreases during treatment and IFN-alpha 2b appears to enhance formation of neopterin and B2M.
Fuchs
D
D
Institute for Medical Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Innsbruck, Austria.
Norkrans
G
G
Wejstal
R
R
Reibnegger
G
G
Weiss
G
G
Weiland
O
O
Schvarcz
R
R
Fryden
A
A
Wachter
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers; D001708:Biopterins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood* / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019798:Neopterin; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
D015415:Biomarkers; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D001708:Biopterins; D019798:Neopterin; D007371:Interferon-gamma