[Effects of interferon on hepatic intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression in patients with chronic hepatitis B].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of interferon -alpha1b (IFN-alpha1b) on hepatic intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression and serum HBV DNA in patients with chronic hepatitis B.


METHODS
Before and 6 months after IFN-alpha1b treatment, liver biopsy was performed in patients with chronic hepatitis B to detect the expression of ICAM-1 in the liver tissues using immunohistochemistry. Serum HBV load was detected with real-time fluorescence polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
CAM-1 expression in the liver tissue was significantly down-regulated after IFN treatment in patients with severe and moderate chronic hepatitis B (P<0.05). No significant variation was noted in the expression of ICAM-1 in the livers of patients with mild chronic hepatitis B after the treatment (P>0.05). In the patients weakly positive for ICAM-1 expression (+), serum HBV DNA varied scarcely after the treatment (P>0.05), while in the patients with strong ICAM-1 positivity (++, +++, or ++++), significant variation of serum HBV DNA occurred after the treatment (P<0.05 or P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The therapeutic effect of IFN-alpha1b is associated with the expression of ICAM-1 in the hepatocytes, and its expression might enhance the effects of IFN on HBV DNA in patients with chronic hepatitis B.
Zheng
Rui-dan
RD
Center of Liver Disease, 175 Hospital of PLA, Zhangzhou 363000, China. zhengruidan@tom.com
Xu
Cheng-run
CR
Zhang
Min-feng
MF
Meng
Jia-rong
JR
Rao
Ri-chun
RC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D019562:Viral Load; D055815:Young Adult
D004279:DNA, Viral; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1