Patterns of natural killer cell function activation in response to interferon in chronic HBsAG positive hepatitis: relationship with the state of viral infection and with the early clinical response.
In an effort to define immunobiological parameters identifying "responders" vs "non-responders" to IFN among hepatitis patients, 16 patients with chronic active hepatitis were screened for changes of Natural Killer cell activity (NK). 10/16 patients replicated the hepatitis B virus (HBV-DNA positive) whereas 6/16 replicated the defective B virus associated delta virus (HDV-RNA positive). Patients received 9 MU/3x/weekly/3 months of recombinant IFN alpha A. Mean NK activity of the HBV-DNA patients rose significantly from 29.9 +/- 5.3 to 45 +/- 4.7 during therapy, whereas the 6/16 HDV-RNA positive patients did not show any significant increase of NK activity. Interestingly, individual HDV-RNA positive patients exhibiting boosted NK activity also showed improvement of disease confirmed by clearance of intrahepatic delta antigen at one year. No such a correlation was found amongst the HBV-DNA positive patients. These data indicate that in spite of widespread individual variability, IFN-mediated NK boost may herald delta clearance and help in identifying "responders" and "non-responders" in IFN trials.
Actis
G C
GC
Division of Gastroenterology, Hospital Biostatistics Center, Ospedale Molinette, Turin, Italy.
Maran
E
E
Bonino
F
F
Saracco
G
G
Rosina
F
F
Brunetto
M R
MR
Baldi
M
M
Rizzetto
M
M
Verme
G
G
Rocca
B
B
D000328:Adult; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics; D003698:Hepatitis Delta Virus / Q000235:genetics; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000502:physiology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics; D014762:Viral Interference
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA; D007372:Interferons