RECOMBINANT-ALPHA-2B TREATMENT IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC ACTIVE HEPATITIS - EFFECTS ON PERIPHERAL-BLOOD MONONUCLEAR-CELLS AND CORRELATION WITH RESPONSE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between per ipheral blood monocyte and lymphocyte subsets and response to recombin ant-alpha 2b-interferon (r-alpha 2b-IFN) in patients with viral chroni c active hepatitis (CAH), Peripheral blood mononuclear cell subsets we re studied by use of flow cytometry before beginning treatment, after 24 hours, and after 15, 30, and 90 days of treatment with r-alpha 2b-I FN (3 million U thrice weekly) in 16 patients with CAH-11 who tested a nti-HCV-positive and five HBsAg-positive/anti-HBe-positive/HBV-DNA-pos itive (HCV=hepatitis C virus; HBsAg = hepatitis B surface antigen; HBe = hepatitis B e antigen; HBV = hepatitis B virus), r-alpha 2b-IFN acu tely decreased the number of peripheral blood B lymphocytes, natural k iller (NK) cells, and T-naive cells, It also activated monocytes and T lymphocytes, as indicated by increased expression of surface human le ukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR molecules and interleukin-2 receptors, respec tively, These effects were no longer evident after 15 days of treatmen t, The number of NK cells was significantly lower in anti-HCV-positive than in HBsAg-positive patients (CD16+ cells: 277 +/- 55/mu L vs 450 +/- 33/mu L, P < 0.03) and was decreased in both groups during the 3 m onths of therapy, Responders to r-alpha 2b-IFN did not differ from non responders except in the number of NK cells, which was higher than in anti-HCV-positive nonresponders 24 hours after the first injection, r- alpha 2b-IFN acutely activates peripheral blood mononuclear cells and decreases the number of circulating NK cells in anti-HCV-positive and HBsAg-positive/anti-HBe-positive/HBV-DNA-positive patients with CAH. T hese effects did not correlate with treatment response.