title: Immune responses in autoimmune hepatitis: effect of prednisone and azathioprine treatment: case report.
abstract: The role of the immune response in autoimmune hepatitis has not been studied before and after prednisone and azathioprine treatment. Distributions of blood lymphocytes (CD4+, CD8+, CD19+, CD23+, CD16/56+), levels of serum immunoglobulins (IgM, IgG, IgE, IgA) and cytokines (IFN-gamma, IL-4, IL-12, TNFalpha ) were studied in a child (f/14 y/o) with autoimmune hepatitis before and after prednisone (20 mg/d) and azathioprine (50 mg/d) treatment (nephelometry, UniCAP Total IgE Fluoroenzymeimmunoassay, flow cytometry, cytokine ELISA). Patient was studied for 0-2.5 yrs; treatment was initiated 12 weeks post diagnosis. Numbers of CD4+ T cells increased (50%), while CD19+ and CD23+ cells decreased (>50%) post treatment; other lymphocyte subsets were unaffected by treatment. Serum IgG and IgE levels decreased (>50%) after treatment; serum IgM and IgA were within normal range and were not affected by treatment High levels of IFN-gamma (5-23 pg/ml) were initially detected in serum, which decreased after treatment (<0.1 pg/ml). Furthermore, low levels of IL-4 (0.2 pg/mL) were detected before treatment, which were not detected after treatment (<0.1 pg/ml). In contrast, before treatment, IL-12 and TNFalpha were not detected in serum; however after treatment the levels of IL-12 and TNFalpha dramatically increased. Prednisone and azathioprine treatment decreased total serum IgG, IgE, IFN-gamma and IL-4 levels, and blood CD19+ and CD23+ cells; however serum IL-12, TNFalpha and blood CD4+ T cells increased with treatment. Understanding immunomodulation in autoimmune hepatitis will provide better insight and mechanisms of this disease and may tailor more effective therapeutic intervention.
authors: Department of Pathology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA.
authors: Martin H
authors: MH
authors: Bluth
authors: Stephan
authors: S
authors: Kohlhoff
authors: Kevin B
authors: KB
authors: Norowitz
authors: Jonathan I
authors: JI
authors: Silverberg
authors: Seto
authors: S
authors: Chice
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Nowakowski
authors: Helen G
authors: HG
authors: Durkin
authors: Tamar A
authors: TA
authors: Smith-Norowitz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019693:Hepatitis, Autoimmune / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000097:blood; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D001379:Azathioprine; D011241:Prednisone