Inhibition of activated blood platelets by interferon alpha 2b in chronic hepatitis C.
OBJECTIVE
Interferon alpha used in treatment of chronic hepatitis C significantly influences the blood platelets. The role of platelets in initiating and developing pathological processes in hepatic diseases is still barely known. We studied the effects of interferon alpha 2b (IFN alpha2b) on blood platelets in chronic hepatitis C.


METHODS
The studies were conducted in 16 patients who underwent IFN alpha2b treatment 3 times a week at 6MU. The examination was carried out before and on the 14th day of the treatment of IFN alpha2b. Morphological parameters of blood platelets were determined by hematological methods and flow cytometry. Expression of receptors on blood platelet surfaces (CD41, CD42a, CD62P) and thrombopoietin, platelet-derived growth factor, soluble form sP-selectin, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha were also determined.


RESULTS
The use of IFN alpha2b in patients with chronic hepatitis C significantly effects blood platelets morphology by causing the decrease in their number, the change in population size, and the increase in large platelet count. Interferon decreases P-selectin expression on platelets, sP-selectin and platelet-derived growth factor concentration in plasma. During interferon therapy we noted increase concentration of thrombopoietin, tumor necrosis factor alpha, IL-6 in chronic hepatitis C.


CONCLUSIONS
IFN alpha2b stabilizes activated platelets and probably decreases their participation in inflammatory and fibrotic processes in the liver.
Panasiuk
Anatol
A
Department of Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland. apanasiuk@wp.pl
Prokopowicz
Danuta
D
Zak
Janusz
J
Panasiuk
Bozena
B
Wysocka
Jolanta
J
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019007:P-Selectin / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D015539:Platelet Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D010976:Platelet Count; D019038:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIb-IX Complex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D040201:Platelet Membrane Glycoprotein IIb / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D034061:Thrombopoiesis / Q000187:drug effects
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D019007:P-Selectin; D019038:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIb-IX Complex; D040201:Platelet Membrane Glycoprotein IIb; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D011994:Recombinant Proteins