title: The effect of cytokine profiles on the viral response to re-treatment in antiviral-experienced patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There have been few studies on the potential immunological factors associated with viral controls in antiviral-experienced patients on a second round of combination therapy. In this study, we evaluated the level of systemic cytokines and potential impact on combination therapy in both antiviral-naïve and -experienced patients chronically infected with hepatitis C virus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal analysis of 27 cytokines and chemokines was performed using the multiplex Biorad 27 plex assay in 37 antiviral-naïve and 24 experienced chronically HCV-1b-infected patients during combination therapy with peginterferon-alfa and ribavirin. A group of healthy donors was included as the control (n=11).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty percent of antiviral-experienced chronically HCV-patients could achieve a delayed and slow virologic response after 48 weeks combination therapy, comparing with an early and fast virologic response in antiviral-naïve patients. A distinction of immune mediators profiling before and during antiviral therapy between antiviral-naïve and -experienced patients was identified, IL-4, IFN-γ and CCL-3 (MIP-1a) were significantly higher in naïve patients than those in experienced patients (P=0.005, 0.047 and 0.017, respectively) while G-CSF in naïve was lower than in experienced patients (P<0.05). Notably, higher Th1 type cytokine IFN-γ and lower Th2 type cytokine IL-4 at baseline and week 4 were associated with HCV clearance in naïve patients, and a similar trend appeared at week 12 in experienced patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found a successful second round therapy in antiviral-experienced patients appears to be associated with the host immune response. Dominant Th1-polar cytokines, especially IFN-γ, is a potential predictor of viral responsiveness.
authors: Beijing You'an Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, PR China. zhangyonghong1973@yahoo.com.cn
authors: Yonghong
authors: Y
authors: Zhang
authors: Dandan
authors: D
authors: Guo
authors: Yan
authors: Y
authors: Zhao
authors: Xiaoyun
authors: X
authors: Chen
authors: Lina
authors: L
authors: Ma
authors: Yi
authors: Y
authors: Jin
authors: Huiping
authors: H
authors: Yan
authors: Hao
authors: H
authors: Wu
authors: Lai
authors: L
authors: Wei
authors: Tao
authors: T
authors: Dong
authors: Xinyue
authors: X
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a