Immunological response in chronic hepatitis C virus infection during interferon alpha therapy

Chronic hepatitis C infection is a serious therapeutic problem. Interferon therapy is one of the possible methods leading to HCV infection elimination in some patients. The aim of the study was the estimation of administration of interferon alpha 2a and its effect on the lymphocyte subpopulations in peripheral blood in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

A cytometric analysis was completed concerning the level of CD19+, CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD4+ + HLA DR+, CD16+ + 56+ in 21 patients in the 0, 4, 24, 48 weeks of interferon alpha 2a treatment, with the dose of 18 MU/week/48 weeks.

Virus elimination was obtained in 26% of patients (responders, R) and a higher CD8+ level and a decrease in CD4+ was observed during interferon administration in those patients. A slight increased NK cell level was noticed mainly in patients who did not eliminate HCV (non-responders, NR). In R patients, lower lymphocyte values of CD19+, NK, CD3+ + HLA DR+, and CD4+ were observed in comparison to NR, which could suggest that they play a role in the process of HCV elimination. Significant immunological changes in peripheral blood were observed mainly in the first 4 weeks of interferon alpha therapy.

Our studies did not reveal whether any of examined lymphocyte subpopulations in peripheral blood could be considered as a predictive factor of a positive reaction to interferon alpha treatment. However, there are significant differences in the levels of lymphocytes in R and NR.