AIM: To determine the utility of interferon (IFN) -αproduction capacity in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection for the measurement of immunosurveillance potential and for the early detection of hepatocell...AIM: To determine the utility of interferon (IFN) -αproduction capacity in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection for the measurement of immunosurveillance potential and for the early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by investigating the Sendai virus (HVJ) stimulated IFN-α production capacity of patients with HCV infection.METHODS: HVJ stimulated IFN-α production was determined in a large number of patients with HCV infection and the development of HCC was monitored for 3 years in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC).RESULTS: IFN-α production capacity decreases gradually with the progression of liver disease from chronic hepatitis (CH) to HCC. A significant correlation between the duration of HCV infection and impaired IFN-α production capacity was observed. IFN-α production in patients who developed HCC within 3 years was significantly lower than that of patients who remained in LC without developing HCC.CONCLUSION: Measurement of IFN-α production in LC patients may be useful for the early detection of HCC.展开更多
基金Supported by a grant-in-aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture of Japan (No.17606005 and 16201041) a Research Grant for Allergic Disease and Immunology from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan (H16-Immunology-002)
文摘AIM: To determine the utility of interferon (IFN) -αproduction capacity in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection for the measurement of immunosurveillance potential and for the early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by investigating the Sendai virus (HVJ) stimulated IFN-α production capacity of patients with HCV infection.METHODS: HVJ stimulated IFN-α production was determined in a large number of patients with HCV infection and the development of HCC was monitored for 3 years in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC).RESULTS: IFN-α production capacity decreases gradually with the progression of liver disease from chronic hepatitis (CH) to HCC. A significant correlation between the duration of HCV infection and impaired IFN-α production capacity was observed. IFN-α production in patients who developed HCC within 3 years was significantly lower than that of patients who remained in LC without developing HCC.CONCLUSION: Measurement of IFN-α production in LC patients may be useful for the early detection of HCC.
