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Studies of interleukin‐12 in chronic hepatitis B virus infection
Author(s) -
Naoumov N. V.,
Rossol S.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
journal of viral hepatitis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.329
H-Index - 100
eISSN - 1365-2893
pISSN - 1352-0504
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2893.1997.tb00185.x
Subject(s) - virology , medicine , chronic hepatitis , virus , hepatitis b virus , immunology
Summary. Interleukin‐12 is produced by antigen‐presenting cells and regulates the balance between TH 1 /TH 2 lymphocyte subsets, promoting cell‐mediated immune reactions. Amongst patients with chronic hepatitis B undergoing interferon‐alpha treatment, only those who clear hepatitis B virus show a substantial increase in the production of biologically active IL‐12 and an inverse ratio between serum levels of IL‐12p40 subunit and IL‐12. The peak of serum IL‐12 occurs after the hepatitis flare and precedes or coincides with the time of HBe seroconversion. These data indicate that IL‐12 is an important element for establishing the host immune control on hepatitis B virus replication in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection.