The effects of recombinant interleukin 2 on HBe antigen positive chronic hepatitis B.
Recombinant interleukin (IL-2) was administered to 16 patients with HBe antigen-positive chronic active hepatitis in which the diagnosis was ascertained histologically. In 7 of the 16 patients, a decrement of the serum HBe antigen value was observed (Group A). In group A, the findings showed an increment of peripheral Leu 11-positive cells and NK and LAK cell activity, an acute exacerbation during and after IL-2 administration, disappearance of HBc antigen observed in liver biopsy histology, and decrement of serum DNA-p activity. However, seroconversion of HBs antigen was not observed and no case showed the elimination status of continuous HB virus infection. On the other hand, in the other 9 patients (Group B), these changes were not observed and the existence of a HLA type difference between Group A and B was shown by HLA analysis. These results indicated that the immune responses mediated by IL-2 may play an important role in the development of chronic hepatitis B, and these results may be regulated genetically.
Department of Internal Medicine, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
M
M
Zeniya
H
H
Takahashi
H
H
Sata
M
M
Negishi
H
H
Miyazaki
F
F
Watanabe
H
H
Ohkoshi
H
H
Ando
Y
Y
Aizawa
H
H
Kameda
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007125:Immunogenetics; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D006680:HLA Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D007376:Interleukin-2