SOLUBLE CD8 AND SOLUBLE CD4 ANTIGENS IN VIRAL-HEPATITIS AND ALCOHOLICCIRRHOSIS

Serum levels and production of soluble CD8 and soluble CD4 antigens by peripheral blood mononuclear cells were determined in patients with a lcoholic cirrhosis and acute or chronic viral hepatitis. Patients with chronic viral hepatitis had significantly increased soluble CD8 serum levels (n=18; 734+/-143 U/ml) (mean+/-SD) compared to healthy control s (n=80; 312+/-141 U/ml; p<0.001) and patients with alcoholic cirrhosi s (n=12; 505+/-256 U/ml; p=0.006), whose soluble CD8 concentrations we re also higher than controls (p<0.001). In contrast, soluble CD4 antig en serum levels were similar in all groups. In addition, patients with chronic hepatitis showed an increased production of soluble CD8, but not soluble CD4, after mitogenic stimulation of their peripheral blood mononuclear cells compared to controls or patients with alcoholic cir rhosis. Patients with acute viral hepatitis, studied within the first 2 weeks after onset of jaundice, showed markedly elevated serum concen trations of soluble CD8 (n=4; 807+/-379 U/ml; p<0.001 vs. controls), b ut not soluble CD4. In addition, nine patients with chronic hepatitis C were studied during and after treatment with alpha interferon. Solub le CD8 serum concentrations of six treatment responders were not found to be different from the low levels seen in controls, whereas three n on-responders had increased soluble CD8 levels which were similar to l evels in untreated patients with chronic hepatitis C. After interferon -alpha therapy ended, a significant elevation of soluble CD8 serum con centrations was observed in four relapsing patients, which paralleled the serum ALT increase. In contrast, in two patients with sustained lo w ALT even after termination of interferon-alpha treatment, soluble CD 8 serum concentrations remained in the normal range. Determination of soluble CD8 concentrations in serum could be a valuable parameter for the activation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes known to be involved in live r cell destruction in chronic liver disease. (C) Journal of Hepatology .