title: Influence of amantadine on CD81 expression on lymphocytes in chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Interferon alpha (IFN) down regulates CD81 expression on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Aim of our study was to investigate whether amantadine alters IFN associated down regulation of CD81 expression on PBMC in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nineteen patients with chronic HCV infection received peginterferon alpha-2a/ribavirin (SOC) for 48 weeks. Patients were randomised to 12 weeks amantadine therapy (n=12) or no additional treatment (n=7). FACS analysis of CD81 expression on CD4(+), CD8(+), CD19(+), and CD56(+) cells was performed at baseline, week (TW) 4, TW12, and TW24 of antiviral therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant decline of CD81 expression was observed on CD4(+), CD8(+), and CD56(+) cells (p=0.011, p<0.001, p=0.015, respectively) but not on CD19(+) cells (p>0.2). CD81 expression on CD4(+), CD8(+), CD19(+), and CD56(+) cells was not different between patients treated with SOC plus amantadine and patients treated with SOC alone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current study confirms that CD81 expression is down regulated by SOC on CD4(+), CD8(+) and CD56(+) cells. Amantadine treatment was not associated with CD81 expression. Interaction between amantadine and CD81 is unlikely to be involved in potential antiviral activity of amantadine in chronic HCV infection.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik 1, Klinikum der Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin-Walter
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Welker
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: von Wagner
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ochs
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zimmer
authors.forename: Wolf Peter
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Hofmann
authors.forename: Albrecht
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piiper
authors.forename: Rolf W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Hartmann
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Herrmann
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zeuzem
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kronenberger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000547:Amantadine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000187:drug effects; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D060225:Tetraspanin 28
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000998:Antiviral Agents; C554798:CD81 protein, human; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral; D060225:Tetraspanin 28; D000547:Amantadine