Neutralizing antibodies in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection treated with (Peg)-interferon/ribavirin.
BACKGROUND
The role of neutralizing antibody (NAb) in determining response to antiviral therapy has not been established.


OBJECTIVE
In this study we have analysed the kinetic's of the NAb response in patients with chronic hepatitis C who received antiviral therapy.


METHODS
Seventeen patients infected with genotype 1, 2a/c or 3a hepatitis C virus (HCV) were enrolled, eight with a sustained virological response (SVR), five non-responders and four relapsers.


RESULTS
The mean NAb titre required to neutralize 50% of the E1E2-pp in patients who achieved an SVR (294+/-S.D. 51), in relapsers (246+/-S.D. 61.7) and non-responders (286+/-S.D. 80.95) did not differ significantly between the patient groups and did not alter during the course of treatment (P>0.01). Genetic variation present before antiviral therapy was analysed by single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) and failed to demonstrate a significant difference in the mean number of amplified E1E2 DNA fragments from the serum of patients who achieved an SVR (3.15+/-S.D. 1.53), relapsers (2.8+/-S.D. 1.32) or non-responders (3.69+/-S.D. 1.75). The baseline serum HCV viral loads were also not significantly different between patients who achieved an SVR (1.4 x 10(6) copies/ml; +/-S.D. 2.4 x 10(6)), relapsers (1.3 x 10(7) copies/ml; +/-S.D. 2.4 x 10(7)) and non-responders (1.5 x 10(6) copies/ml; +/-S.D. 1.1 x 10(6)).


CONCLUSIONS
We have shown that neutralizing anti-HCVpp antibody is not associated with response to antiviral therapy. In addition, there was no correlation between baseline virological load, circulating viral quasi-species, NAb titres and final response to treatment.
Boo
Irene
I
Macfarlane Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, Melbourne, Prahran, Victoria 3001, Australia.
Fischer
Alexandra E
AE
Johnson
Doug
D
Chin
Ruth
R
Giourouki
Maxine
M
Bharadwaj
Mandvi
M
Bowden
Scott
S
Torresi
Joseph
J
Drummer
Heidi
H
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018807:Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology
D000998:Antiviral Agents; C087035:E1 protein, Hepatitis C virus; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C091015:glycoprotein E2, Hepatitis C virus; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; D007372:Interferons