Transfusion of autologous cytokine-induced killer cells inhibits viral replication in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection.
Adoptive immune transfer plays an important role in clearance of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. However, it is unclear whether cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells could suppress HBV replication in CHB patients, especially if drug resistance develops. In this study, functional CIK cells were efficiently generated from 21 CHB patients and were transfused in an autologous manner. We found that CIK cells from the CHB patients displayed substantial proliferation and function. Administration of the CIK cells closely correlated with the decrease in the serum HBV load and improvement in liver function in some patients. The virological response rate in patients with baseline serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels of >40 U/L was higher than that in patients with baseline serum ALT levels of < or = 40 U/L. Moreover, patients who had HBeAg loss or showed seroconversion generally had baseline serum ALT levels of >40 U/L. No serious side effects were observed. This protocol represents an alternative immune therapeutic strategy for the disease.
Shi
Ming
M
Research Center for Biological Therapy, Beijing 302 Hospital, Beijing 100039, China.
Fu
Junliang
J
Shi
Feng
F
Zhang
Bin
B
Tang
Zirong
Z
Jin
Lei
L
Fan
Zhenping
Z
Zhang
Zheng
Z
Chen
Liming
L
Wang
Huifeng
H
Lau
George K K
GK
Wang
Fu-Sheng
FS