Intracellular cytokine analysis of CD4-positive T cells predictive of sustained response to interferon therapy for patients with chronic hepatitis C.
We investigated whether the measurement of serum interleukin 18 (IL-18) and intracellular cytokine analysis of peripheral blood CD4-positive T cells (ICA-CD4+ Tc) of chronic hepatitis C (CH-C) patients before and two weeks after interferon (IFN) administration are useful for predicting sustained response to IFN. Twenty-nine CH-C patients received IFN every day for two weeks and three times a week for 22 weeks. Patients were divided into two groups: responders, in whom serum HCV-RNA was undetectable at the end of the follow-up (week 48), and nonresponders, in whom any other patterns were seen. Before and two weeks after IFN administration, serum IL-18 and ICA-CD4+ Tc as described by Jung et al were measured. Serum IL-18 and the relative prevalence of IFN-gamma+ and IL-4+, IFN-gamma+ and IL-4 (Th-1), and IFN-gamma- and IL-4+ cells in the responders were significantly increased, but only the relative prevalence of Th-1 cells in the nonresponders was increased two weeks after IFN therapy. In conclusion, ICA-CD4+ Tc and the measurement of serum IL-18 might be useful for predicting IFN therapy by comparing the results between before and two weeks after IFN.
Ishii
K
K
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Toho University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Takamura
N
N
Shinohara
E
E
Shin
H Y
HY
Ikehara
T
T
Hata
S
S
Kawafune
T
T
Sumino
Y
Y
Ohmoto
Y
Y
D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000097:blood; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000473:pathology
D016207:Cytokines; D020382:Interleukin-18; D007372:Interferons