Effects of alpha-interferon on gamma-interferon production of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in hepatitis B virus carriers.
We studied gamma-interferon production of phytohemagglutinin-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells in response to alpha-interferon in hepatitis B virus carriers and healthy individuals. The magnitude of gamma-interferon production was significantly higher in patients with anti-HBe antibody than in patients with HBe antigen and healthy individuals. Furthermore, alpha-interferon augmented the production of gamma-interferon of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with active liver injury [serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), greater than 40 U/L], but not that from patients with inactive liver injury (serum ALT, less than 40 U/L) or healthy individuals. These results suggested that alpha-interferon could enhance the cellular immune response against hepatitis B virus by augmenting the endogenous production of gamma-interferon in patients with active liver injury, implying that the responsiveness to alpha-interferon might be responsible for liver cell injury.
Katayama
K
K
First Department of Internal Medicine, Osaka University School of Medicine, Japan.
Hayashi
N
N
Takehara
T
T
Towata
T
T
Kasahara
A
A
Fusamoto
H
H
Kamada
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D002353:Carrier State / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D000410:Alanine Transaminase