Virology Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Virology, including details on viruses, pathology, classification, definitions.

Sustained virological response to peginterferon plus ribavirin in chronic hepatitis C genotype 1 patients is associated with a persistent Th1 immune response.

Trapero-Marugán M, García-Buey L, Muñoz C, Quintana NE, Moreno-Monteagudo JA, Borque MJ, Fernández MJ, Salvanés FR, Medina J, Moreno-Otero R

Gastroenterology and Hepatology Service, Hospital Universitario de La Princesa, Madrid, Spain.

BACKGROUND: An impairment of cellular immune response may contribute to the persistency of hepatitis C virus infection. AIM: To analyse the Th1/Th2 cytokine profile in peripheral blood CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells from patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) during treatment with pegylated interferon-alpha2a plus ribavirin and to correlate the Th1/Th2 balance with virological response (SVR). METHODS: Prospective longitudinal study: 44 naïve genotype 1 CHC patients received PEG-IFNalpha2a plus ribavirin for 48 weeks: 26 (59.1%) achieved a SVR, 13 relapsed (29.5%) and 5 (11.4%) were non-responders. Sixteen healthy controls were analysed. The production of IL-4, IFNgamma and TNFalpha by CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells was measured using flow cytometry, both in resting and phorbol-ester-stimulated cells. RESULTS: First three months of treatment: the synthesis of TNFalpha by phorbol-ester-stimulated-CD4(+) T cells was higher in patients with SVR (P < 0.01). At the end of treatment, SVR was associated with higher intracellular expression of IFNgamma by stimulated-CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells (P < 0.05). At the end of follow-up, a higher intracellular expression of IFNgamma by CD4(+) T cells was associated with a SVR. CONCLUSIONS: A Th1-type immune response was associated with achievement of a SVR, as indicated by the persistent elevation of intracellular IFNgamma and TNFalpha.

Published 28 June 2006 in Aliment Pharmacol Ther, 24(1): 117-28.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2005-2008 Virology Research Today. All Rights Reserved.