Electron microscopic studies of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in chronic type C hepatitis treated with interferon-alpha.
Electron microscopic studies of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in chronic type C hepatitis revealed several interesting structures after interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) therapy. Fifteen of 20 patients were treated with IFN-alpha. Tubuloreticular inclusions (TRI) were observed in only one patient who did not receive therapy. In contrast, TRI were observed in 10 of 15 (66.7%) patients who underwent the therapy for 2 weeks to 6 months. Cylindric confronting cisternae (CCC) were identified in the cytoplasm of PBMC in 4 of 16 (25%) patients who underwent the therapy. CCC were found only after IFN-alpha therapy. The appearance of both TRI and CCC in the PBMC was significantly correlated to IFN-alpha therapy. Although there is little evidence about the morphogenesis of TRI and CCC, these structures may be a host response to IFN-alpha induced by hepatitis C virus infection.
Watanabe
S
S
Third Department of Internal Medicine, Kagawa Medical School, Japan.
Ito
T
T
Shirai
M
M
Arima
K
K
Nishioka
M
M
Saito
T
T
Ohbayashi
M
M
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D002479:Inclusion Bodies / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron; D008875:Middle Aged
D016898:Interferon-alpha