Restoration of natural killer cell activity by pegylated interferon‐alpha/ribavirin therapy in chronic hepatitis C patient. Issue 1 (24th April 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nakamura, Ikuo; Asano, Takeharu; Asabe, Shinichi; Ando, Mayumi; Sano, Takatomo; Miyata, Yuki; Taira, Junichi; Sugimoto, Katsutoshi; Imai, Yasuharu; Moriyasu, Fuminori; Imawari, Michio
• Is Part Of: Hepatology research. Volume 45:Issue 1(2015:Jan.)
• Page Start: 107
• Page End: 112
• Publication Date: 2014-04-24
• Subjects: Liver -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Liver Diseases -- Periodicals; Foie -- Maladies -- Périodiques; 616.362
• DOI: 10.1111/hepr.12322
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1386-6346

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="hepr12322-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Aim</title> <p>The combination therapy of pegylated interferon‐α and ribavirin (PEG IFN/RBV) is one of the effective treatments for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients. Natural killer (NK)‐cell activity was reported to be impaired in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV). The aim of this study was to examine whether PEG IFN/RBV therapy could restore NK activity in CHC patients.</p> </sec> <sec id="hepr12322-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>In 19 CHC patients, PEG IFN/RBV therapy was performed. Just before (0M), at 3 months of the therapy (3M) and at 6 months after completion of the therapy (6M), NK activity and the frequency of NK cells, CD56<sup>dim</sup>NK cells and CD56<sup>bright</sup>NK cells in peripheral blood was estimated by creatinine release assay and flow cytometry. Statistical analysis was performed by <sc>anova</sc> and Mann–Whitney <italic>U</italic>‐test.</p> </sec> <sec id="hepr12322-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p> <sc>anova</sc> showed that NK activity significantly improved at 6M (vs 0M, <italic>P</italic> < 0.05) in the patients studied and in the patients with sustained virological response (SVR). It also showed that frequency of CD56<sup>bright</sup>NK cells was significantly increased at 6M (vs 0M, <italic>P</italic> < 0.05) in the patients studied and in the SVR group. However, no significant change in NK activity and frequency of CD56<sup>bright</sup>NK cells were detected in non‐SVR group. Furthermore, NK activity ratio (6M/0M) in the SVR group was revealed to be higher compared with that in the non‐SVR group by analysis using Mann–Whitney <italic>U</italic>‐test (<italic>P</italic> < 0.05).</p> </sec> <sec id="hepr12322-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>PEG IFN/RBV therapy in CHC patients could improve NK activity by increasing the frequency of CD56<sup>bright</sup>NK cells in SVR patients. Our study also revealed that eradication of HCV could restore NK‐cell activity.</p> </sec> </abstract>