Evidence for a deficiency of interferon production in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection acquired in adult life.
Ninety per cent of patients infected in adult life with the hepatitis B virus clear the virus completely and 10% develop chronic infection. There is evidence for the involvement of interferon in the clearance of acute hepatitis B virus infection. We report that, in in vitro tests, some hepatitis B virus carriers have a reduced capacity to produce alpha- and gamma-interferon which is unrelated to the level of viral replication and to the severity of the liver disease and that the level of 2-5 oligoadenylate synthetase in their livers is only minimally elevated compared to controls. Treatment with lymphoblastoid (alpha-) interferon leads to a marked rise in 2-5 oligoadenylate synthetase activity. These data indicate that some patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection acquired in adult life have a partial deficiency of production of alpha-interferon but can respond to exogenous alpha-interferon. These observations provide a logical basis for attempts to treat this condition with interferons.
D015088:2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D004790:Enzyme Induction / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology*; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007372:Interferons / Q000172:deficiency*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D007370:Interferon Type I; D007372:Interferons; D015088:2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase