Relationship between Phenotypic Changes of Dendritic Cell Subsets and the Onset of Plateau Phase during Intermittent Interferon Therapy in Patients with CHB

Objective This study aimed to evaluate whether the onset of the plateau phase of slow hepatitis B surface antigen decline in patients with chronic hepatitis B treated with intermittent interferon therapy is related to the frequency of dendritic cell subsets and expression of the costimulatory molecules CD40,CD80,CD83,and CD86.Method This was a cross-sectional study in which patients were divided into a natural history group(namely NH group),a long-term oral nucleoside analogs treatment group(namely NA group),and a plateau-arriving group(namely P group).The percentage of plasmacytoid dendritic cell and myeloid dendritic cell subsets in peripheral blood lymphocytes and monocytes and the mean fluorescence intensity of their surface costimulatory molecules were detected using a flow cytometer.Results In total,143 patients were enrolled(NH group,n=49;NA group,n=47;P group,n=47).The results demonstrated that CD141/CD1c double negative myeloid dendritic cell(DNmDC)/lymphocytes and monocytes(%)in P group(0.041[0.024,0.069])was significantly lower than that in NH group(0.270[0.135,0.407])and NA group(0.273[0.150,0.443]),and CD86 mean fluorescence intensity of DNmDCs in P group(1832.0[1484.0,2793.0])was significantly lower than that in NH group(4316.0[2958.0,5169.0])and NA group(3299.0[2534.0,4371.0]),Adjusted P all<0.001.Conclusion Reduced DNmDCs and impaired maturation may be associated with the onset of the plateau phase during intermittent interferon therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Immediate virological response predicts the success of shortterm peg-interferon monotherapy for chronic hepatitis C

AIM:To investigate the efficacy of short-term peginterferon(PEG-IFN)monotherapy for chronic hepatitis C patients who achieved an immediate virological response.METHODS:Defining an"immediate virological response(IVR)"as the loss of serum hepatitis C virus(HCV) RNA 7 d after the first administration of PEG-IFNα,we conducted a 12-wk course of PEG-IFNα2a monotherapy without the addition of ribavirin for 38 patients who had low pretreatment HCV RNA load and exhibited IVR.The patients included 21 men and 17 women,whose ages ranged from 22 to 77 years(mean±SD:52.0±17.8 years).There were 4 patients with HCV genotype 1b,23 patients with genotype 2a and 4 patients with genotype 2b.HCV genotype was not determined for the remaining 7 patients.Patients were categorized into a sustained virological response(SVR)group,if serum HCV RNA remained negative for 24 wk after the end of treatment,or into a relapse group.RESULTS:Based on the intention-to-treat analysis,35 patients(92.1%)achieved SVR.One patient(2.6%)relapsed with serum HCV RNA 12 wk after the end of treatment.Two patients(5.3%)withdrew from the study during the 24-wk follow-up period.With regard to the HCV RNA genotype,the SVR rates were 100%(4/4) for genotype 1b,95.7%(22/23)for genotype 2a and 100%(4/4)for genotype 2b.The SVR rate in 7 patients,whose HCV RNA genotypes were not determined,was 71.4%(5/7).CONCLUSION:Short-term PEG-IFNα2a monotherapy is highly effective for chronic hepatitis C patients who have low pretreatment HCV RNA load and exhibit IVR.

Pathogenesis and treatment of hepatitis C virus-related liver diseases

BACKGROUND: Few comprehensive reviews on the pa- thogenesis of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related liver diseases have been presented to the present. This article was to re- view the pathogenesis and treatment of HCV-related liver diseases. DATA SOURCES: Data presented here are mostly taken from Japanese studies. RESULTS: HCV infection is characterized by persistent in- flammation of the liver and frequent development of hepa- tocellular carcinoma (HCC) in most cases. These charac- teristic evidences could be explained by immunological al- terations and oxidative stress in the hepatocyte caused by HCV infection. Interferon (IFN) treatment is carried out, at present, not only for the elimination of infected HCV for the treatment of chronic liver diseases, but also for both the prevention of HCC and the treatment of advanced HCC with chemotherapy. The treatment for oxidative stress is al- so important for non-responders to IFN. CONCLUSION: It is important to understand the pathoge- nesis of HCV-related liver diseases for a successful treat- ment.