Elevation of 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase activity and HLA-I associated beta 2-microglobulin in response to recombinant interferon-gamma administration in chronic HBeAg-positive hepatitis.
We have analyzed the immunomodulatory effect of 5 and 2 MU of recombinant interferon-gamma (rIFN-gamma) administered to 8 carriers of HBsAg with histologically proven chronic active liver disease. After the rIFN-gamma administration, T8 lymphocyte subsets showed a significant decrease (basal vs. 4 weeks, p less than 0.05) and T4/T8 ratios were higher than the basal values in 6/8 patients. Serum levels of the HLA class I-associated beta 2-microglobulin increased significantly in all patients within the first week of treatment, both with the high (p less than 0.01) and the low (p less than 0.05) rIFN-gamma dose. Then, differences between the two doses reached statistical significance (p less than 0.03). Similar results (p less than 0.05) were obtained by measuring the 2',5'-oligoadenylate (2-5A) synthetase activity, co-occurring with the decreases in HBV-DNA polymerase and HBV-DNA, although no differences were found between the two doses. In addition, levels of 2-5A synthetase correlated significantly with those of beta 2-microglobulin (r = 0.743, p less than 0.01). On the other hand, after the rIFN-gamma administration, all the patients had liver membrane antibodies (LMA) in their serum (p less than 0.05); only two patients (who were anti-HD positive) showed LMA at the end of the follow-up. rIFN-gamma has both antiviral and immunomodulatory effects in HBeAg carriers with chronic liver disease.
Quiroga
J A
JA
Department of Gastroenterology, Fundación Jiménez Diaz, Universidad Autónoma, Madrid, Spain.
Mora
I
I
Porres
J C
JC
Carreño
V
V
D015088:2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000378:metabolism; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000378:metabolism*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D015415:Biomarkers; D006680:HLA Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D015088:2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase