The effect of interferon therapy on erythrocyte membrane Na+,K+ ATP activity in patients with chronic hepatitis B and C virus infections.
In order to evaluate the effect of alpha interferon on erythrocyte membrane Na+,K+ ATPase (EC 3.6.1.37) activity, 10 patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and 8 patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection were investigated. Erythrocyte membrane Na+,K+ ATPase activity was determined in controls and in patients with HBV and HCV infection. Na+,K+ ATPase activity was significantly less in untreated patients with (HBV) infection (n = 20; 0.134 +/- 0.073 mumol of phosphate produced per milligram of protein per hour) and (HCV) infection (n = 11; 0.144 +/- 0.049) when compared to the controls (n = 10; 0.219 +/- 0.055). Among these subjects patients were treated with interferon and following treatment, significant elevation of Na+,K+ ATPase activity was seen in patients with HCV (n = 8; 0.183 +/- 0.044; P = 0.049) and HBV (n = 10, 0.213 +/- 0.095, P = 0.0069) infections when compared with the pre-treatment values (n = 8; 0.152 +/- 0.050) and (n = 10, 0.131 +/- 0.083), respectively. Normalization of serum alanin amino transferase levels (ALT) at treatment cessation was seen in 8 of 10 (%80) HBV infected patients of whom 2 of 8 (%25) had sustained ALT responses within three months after the end of treatment. In HCV infected patients 1 of 8 (%12.5) had sustained response following treatment. At the end of treatment, although Na+,K+ ATPase was restored in both of the patients groups, relative changes in enzyme activity in relation to relative reduction in ALT levels as a response to IFN therapy were not correlated.
Dokuz Eylül University School of Medicine Department of Biochemistry, Bornova, Izmir, Turkey.
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Kuralay
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Tanyalçin
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Kutay
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Ersöz
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Yüce
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Batur
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / Q000378:metabolism*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase