[Immunoadsorption therapy for HCV infected chimpanzee]

Response of Interferon therapy to chronic hepatitis C patients are poor who infected high titer of hepatitis C virus(HCV) RNA. It has been reported that HCV particles coexist low density lipoprotein(LDL) or anti-HCV antibodies as antigen-antibody complex in chronic hepatitis C patients. We demonstrated the ability of removal HCV particles by these adsorbents and the efficacy of HCV RNA reduction by immunoadsorption therapy for HCV infected chimpanzee. By batch method, IgG and LDL adsorbent showed 66% HCV RNA reduction and IgG adsorbents kept better adsorption ability than that of others when adsorbent: serum ratio was increased. Immunoadsorption therapy to chronic HCV infected chimpanzee was carried out on-line with a plasma separator. HCV RNA titer of this chimpanzee decreased 35% immediately after therapy, but after 4.5 hours, it recovered as same level as that of before procedure.