[Changes of immunocytes in livers of chronic hepatitis C patients treated with IFN alpha-2b and ribavirin].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the immunocytodynamic changes in the livers of chronic hepatitis C patients treated with IFN alpha-2b and ribavirin and to find new bases for an effective immune regulation therapy.


METHODS
Forty-two chronic hepatitis C patients were treated with combined IFN alpha-2b and ribavirin and their peripheral blood and liver tissues were collected before the treatment for analyses. After the treatment, peripheral blood and liver tissue specimens were obtained from only 11 patients. All the specimens were exposed to three monoclonal antibody fluorescence dyes, and the CD45+ cells with triple colors were analyzed using flow cytometry.


RESULTS
Compared to the control groups, the positive rates of CD56+, CD57+, CD161+ cells in the livers of those with chronic hepatitis C sharply decreased (Probability value less than 0.01), and CD56+T cells had decreased mildly; CD28 from the CD56+T cells decreased mildly, but the expression of CD152 increased (P<0.05); the positive rates of CD83+CD1a+ cells had decreased mildly, and the positive rates of CD80+CD11c+ and the CD86+CD11c+ cells significantly decreased (P<0.01). After the treatment, the CD56+, CD161+, CD56+T, CD161+T, CD80+CD11c+, CD86+CD11c+ cells in the responding group increased.


CONCLUSIONS
Combined interferon alpha-2b and ribavirin treatment can improve the suppressed cell immunity function.
Yang
Xiu-Hua
XH
Department of Surgery, First Clinical College of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, China. yxihua@hotmail.com
Liu
Bing-Rong
BR
Jiang
Hong-Chi
HC
Li
Shu-Chen
SC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D015703:Antigens, CD; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen; C556706:CTLA4 protein, human; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin