Effect of alpha-interferon on hepatitis B virus-specific cytotoxic T cells.
To study the mechanism of the effects of alpha-interferon (alpha-IFN) on chronic hepatitis B, we examined its effect on hepatitis B virus (HBV)-specific cytotoxic T cells (CTL). Using two different HBV-DNA transfected human myeloma cell lines, one expressing hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg; C4) and the other expressing hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg; S6) as targets in cytotoxic tests in vitro, peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from chronic hepatitis B patients who were treated with alpha-IFN were examined for their cytotoxic activity against these transfectants. During the treatment with alpha-IFN, in association with a decline of serum alanine amino transferase levels, CTL activities were significantly reduced. An inhibition study in vitro revealed that alpha-IFN did not directly inhibit these CTL activities, indicating that alpha-IFN may inhibit the induction of CTL, and thereby may be related to the reduction of hepatocyte injury.
Isono
E
E
Division of Medicine, Tokyo Women's Medical College, Japan.
Yamauchi
K
K
Haruta
I
I
Kamogawa
Y
Y
Hayashi
N
N
D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000187:drug effects; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D014162:Transfection; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D004279:DNA, Viral; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D000410:Alanine Transaminase