title: In vitro alpha-interferon treatment of peripheral blood mononuclear cells improves interleukin-2 activity in HBV-related chronic liver disease.
abstract: To investigate mitogen-induced helper T cell activity in patients with HBV-related chronic liver disease (CLD), Interleukin-2 (IL-2) activity was assessed by an IL-2 bioassay using phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated mononuclear cells (MNC). IL-2 activity was significantly reduced in patients with CLD (P less than 0.01), and was comparable to controls in those with minimal liver damage, indicating that decreased IL-2 activity is not due to the presence of HBV X MNC from 2 of the 3 patients treated with alpha-interferon (alpha-IFN) showed the highest IL-2 activity. In vitro preincubation of MNC with alpha-IFN before stimulation with PHA, led to a significant increase in IL-2 activity in all subjects (P less than 0.01). The improvement in IL-2 activity induced by alpha-IFN may be, in part, responsible for the therapeutic effect of this agent in HBV-related CLD.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology*; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I; D007376:Interleukin-2; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins