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Effect of α‐interferon on hepatitis B virus‐specific cytotoxic T cells
Author(s) -
ISONO ETSUKO,
YAMAUCHI KATSUMI,
HARUTA IKUKO,
KAMOGAWA YUMIKO,
HAYASHI NAOAKI
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1440-1746
pISSN - 0815-9319
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1746.1995.tb01042.x
Subject(s) - hbcag , cytotoxic t cell , ctl* , hbsag , medicine , hepatitis b virus , virology , interferon , peripheral blood mononuclear cell , antigen , immunology , hepatitis b , virus , in vitro , biology , cd8 , biochemistry
To study the mechanism of the effects of α‐interferon (α‐IFN) on chronic hepatitis B, we examined its effect on hepatitis B virus (HBV)‐specific cytotoxic T cells (CTL). Using two different HBV‐DNA transfected human myeloma cell lines, one expressing hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg; C4) and the other expressing hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg; S6) as targets in cytotoxic tests in vitro , peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from chronic hepatitis B patients who were treated with α‐IFN were examined for their cytotoxic activity against these transfectants. During the treatment with α‐IFN, in association with a decline of serum alanine amino transferase levels, CTL activities were significantly reduced. An inhibition study in vitro revealed that α‐IFN did not directly inhibit these CTL activities, indicating that α‐IFN may inhibit the induction of CTL, and thereby may be related to the reduction of hepatocyte injury.