Multiple Cytokine Profiling of the Therapeutic Responses to Ribavirin and Pegylated Interferon-alpha 2b Using an "Induction" Approach With Natural Interferon-beta in Difficult-to-Treat Chronic Hepatitis C

作者：Kishida Yutaka^*; Haruna Yoshimichi; Naitoh Masahumi; Katayama Kazuhiro; Kashiwagi Toru

来源：Journal of Interferon and Cytokine Research, 2009, 29(6): 353-368.

DOI：10.1089/jir.2008.0110

Cyclic and periodic IFN treatment (CPIT) consisting of induction treatment with nIFN-beta followed by maintenance treatment with IFN-alpha could prevent viral breakthrough and achieve rapid virological response (RVR) and early virological response (EVR) in chronic hepatitis C (CHC). The efficacy and immune response of RBV+PEG-IFN-alpha 2b using induction approach with CPIT (novel combination treatment: NCT) in 7 CHC patients with genotype 1b and high viral load were evaluated. A biometric multiplex serum cytokine assay was utilized to characterize the immunomodulatory effect. RVR and EVR were 7/7 and 7/7, respectively. Viral titers dropped below detectable levels in five patients with sustained virological response (SVR) before the end of CPIT (early virological responder: EAVR), and two patients without SVR after the end of CPIT (late virological responder: LAVR). At baseline, in EAVR compared with the controls, IL-6 and IL-15, CXCL-8 and CXCL-10 levels were significantly higher (P < 0.05); IL-10 and IL-13 levels were significantly lower (P < 0.05); and the IL-12 level was lower. In LAVR, GM-CSF, CXCL-8 and CXCL-10, and CCL-4 levels were significantly higher (P < 0.05); and IL-10 and IL-12 were lower than the controls. In EAVR but not LAVR, the IL-12 increased and the CCXL-8 decreased signifi cantly (P < 0.05). In conclusion, NCT-induced viral clearance leading to improvement in the innate immune response resulting in SVR in CHC with genotype 1b and high viral load.

• 出版日期2009-6