Soluble beta2-mu-associated and beta2-mu-free HLA class I heavy chain serum levels in interferon-alpha nonresponder chronic hepatitis C patients. Markers of immune activation, and response to antiviral retreatment.
The serum levels of soluble beta2-mu-associated and beta2-mu-free HLA class I heavy chains were determined in 28 interferon-alpha nonresponder chronic hepatitis C patients retreated with interferon-alpha plus ribavirin and in 70 healthy subjects. The baseline levels of beta2-mu-associated and beta2-mu-free HLA class I heavy chains were significantly higher in patients than in healthy controls (P = 0.001). The levels of beta2-mu-associated HLA class I heavy chains significantly increased in responder patients with respect to nonresponders at the third month of treatment (P = 0.03). At the sixth month of treatment and after 6 months of follow up the levels of beta2-mu-associated HLA class I heavy chains decreased in responder patients and increased in nonresponders. The levels of beta2-mu-free HLA class I heavy chains showed only minor changes during and after treatment. We suggest that the determination of hepatitis C virus RNA levels combined with soluble beta2-mu-associated HLA class I heavy chains, as a marker of immune activation, could identify interferon-alpha non responder chronic hepatitis C patients most likely to respond to a retreatment with interferon-alpha plus ribavirin.
Puppo
F
F
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Italy.
Torre
F
F
Contini
P
P
Ghio
M
M
Brenci
S
S
Brizzolara
R
R
Sinelli
N
N
Campo
N
N
Indiveri
F
F
Picciotto
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D012254:Ribavirin