PROFILES OF CYTOKINES PRODUCED BY CD4-POSITIVE T-LYMPHOCYTES STIMULATED BY ANTI-CD3 ANTIBODY IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HEPATITIS-C

Helper T cells (Th) are classified as type 1 (Th1) and type 2 (Th2) ac cording to the cytokines they produce; interferon-gamma is produced by Th1, and interleukin-4 by Th2. We counted the circulating CD4-positiv e Th cells that produce interferon-gamma or interleukin-4 with an enzy me-linked immunospot assay. CD4-positive T cells isolated from patient s with chronic hepatitis B (n = 10), chronic hepatitis C (n = 16), and healthy subjects (n = 10) were stimulated with anti-CD3 antibody in v itro. The number of interferon-gamma-producing Th cells was significan tly lower in patients with chronic hepatitis C than in healthy subject s (P = 0.0024), whereas in patients with chronic hepatitis B, the numb er was similar to that in healthy subjects (P = 0.8530). The number of interleukin-4-producing Th cells was significantly higher in patients with chronic hepatitis C (P = 0.0010) and chronic hepatitis B (P = 0. 0089) than in healthy subjects. In chronic hepatitis C, the number of interferon-gamma-producing Th cells was increased after incubation of the cells with interferon-alpha (P = 0.008) or with recombinant interf eron-gamma la (P = 0.024). but not with interferon-beta (P = 0.051). T he number of interleukin-4-producing Th cells was decreased after incu bation with interferon-alpha (P = 0.0004), with interferon-beta (P = 0 .003), and with recombinant interferon-gamma la (P = 0.0004). Changes in the numbers of interferon-gamma- or interleukin-4-producing Th cell s in vitro were more evident in sustained responders to interferon the rapy than in non-responders. These results suggest that Th2 cells are the predominant cell type in chronic hepatitis C, and that their activ ity may be suppressed by the administration of interferon.