title: Activities of 2'-5'oligoadenylate synthetase in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with viral hepatitis, and chronic type B hepatitis during interferon therapy.
abstract: The activities of the interferon-induced enzyme 2'-5' oligoadenylate synthetase in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were determined in patients with viral hepatitis. Increased levels of the enzyme were found in patients with acute type B hepatitis at the early phase and also in those with chronic type B hepatitis at the active stage. The levels of this enzyme activity were not significantly increased in patients with acute type A hepatitis or in those with acute type non A non B hepatitis. However, in two patients with acute type A hepatitis the levels of this enzyme were elevated shortly at the onset. These results support the hypothesis that an endogenous interferon response in patients with acute type A hepatitis and in those with acute type B hepatitis may be instrumental in the modulation of these types of hepatitis virus infections. Whereas hepatitis non A non B virus replication in patients with acute type non A non B hepatitis may be associated with poor interferon response. The activities of the enzyme in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were determined in patients with chronic type B hepatitis during interferon therapy. Increased levels of the enzyme were found in all patients during interferon therapy. This increase correlated well with the decreased DNA-polymerase activities. The data also showed that assay of this enzyme activity is useful to determine the optimal dosage and means of interferon therapy for chronic type B hepatitis.
mesh_terms: D015088:2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase / Q000097:blood*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000032:analysis; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000201:enzymology; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase; D015088:2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase