title: Interferon-ribavirin therapy induces serum antibodies determining 'rods and rings' pattern in hepatitis C patients.
abstract: A cytoplasmic antigen associated to inosine-5'-monophosphatedehydrogenase 2 eliciting specific antibodies (antirods and rings, RR) has been identified in patients with chronic hepatitis C who were exposed to pegylated interferon (PI) and ribavirin (RBV). The significance of anti-RR in these patients merits to be investigated. Sera from 88 chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients undergoing PI-RBV therapy were analysed for the presence of RR pattern by indirect immunofluorescence on HEp-2 substrate (Inova Diagnostics, San Diego, CA, USA). Anti-RR antibodies developed de novo in 32 patients independently of any demographic and virological feature, but with a significant association with cumulative exposure to PI-RBV (P = 0.0089; chi-square test). RR pattern was significantly more frequent in relapsers than in patients achieving sustained virological response (56% vs 30%; P = 0.0282, chi-square test). Anti-RR titre ranged from 1:80 to 1:1280, but significantly declined following treatment cessation. Anti-RR develop de novo in a substantial proportion of patients exposed to PI-RBV in relation to the duration of treatment exposure. Further investigations are necessary to unravel the mechanisms leading to the formation of these autoantibodies.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Chemistry and Microbiology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Novembrino
authors.forename: Alessio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aghemo
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferraris Fusarini
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maiavacca
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Matinato
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lunghi
authors.forename: Erminio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Torresani
authors.forename: Mariangela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ronchi
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Garlaschi
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramondetta
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Colombo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007168:IMP Dehydrogenase / Q000276:immunology*; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D001323:Autoantibodies; D012254:Ribavirin; D007372:Interferons; D007168:IMP Dehydrogenase
keywords: autoantibodies; hepatitis C virus; inosine-5'-monophosphatedehydrogenase 2; interferon; ribavirin