Alteration of interferon-α/β receptors in chronic hepatitis B patients

J Clin Immunol. 2011 Jun;31(3):521-32. doi: 10.1007/s10875-011-9518-6. Epub 2011 Mar 29.

Abstract

Background: The present study determined type I interferon (IFN) receptor (interferon-α/β receptor (IFNAR)) and its predicable role in interferon-α2b treatment in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients.

Methods: Expression of IFN-α/βR-1 and IFN-α/βR-2 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and in liver tissue was measured by flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR.

Results: IFN-α/βR-1 and IFN-α/βR-2 in monocytes and lymphocytes increased in CHB patients. Expression of IFNAR-1 and IFNAR-2 in liver had positive correlation with HBV-DNA in liver tissue. Expression of IFN-α/βR in lymphocytes and monocytes increased in the first month, but then decreased during the subsequent interferon-α2b treatment, patients who had higher levels of IFN-α/βR-2 in monocytes prior to therapy showed better viral response than those with lower levels.

Conclusions: Expression of IFN-α/βR-2 in monocytes can be used as a predictable parameter to evaluate the effect of IFN-α treatment in CHB patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Case-Control Studies
  • DNA, Viral / blood*
  • DNA, Viral / immunology
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / blood
  • Hepatitis B e Antigens / blood
  • Hepatitis B virus / drug effects*
  • Hepatitis B virus / immunology
  • Hepatitis B virus / physiology
  • Hepatitis B, Chronic* / blood
  • Hepatitis B, Chronic* / drug therapy
  • Hepatitis B, Chronic* / immunology
  • Hepatitis B, Chronic* / pathology
  • Hepatitis B, Chronic* / virology
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Interferon-alpha / administration & dosage*
  • Interferon-alpha / therapeutic use
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / cytology
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / drug effects*
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / immunology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta* / blood
  • Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta* / genetics
  • Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta* / immunology
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Viral Load / drug effects

Substances

  • DNA, Viral
  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
  • Hepatitis B e Antigens
  • Interferon-alpha
  • Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta