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Dynamics of memory T cells during treatment with interferon‐alpha in patients with chronic hepatitis B
Author(s) -
Sun Bin,
Wang Yanjun,
Meng Qinghua,
Liu Daojie,
Dong Peiling,
Ding Huiguo,
Wu Hao
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
hepatology research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.123
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1872-034X
pISSN - 1386-6346
DOI - 10.1111/j.1872-034x.2010.00686.x
Subject(s) - alpha interferon , chronic hepatitis , medicine , interferon , alpha (finance) , dynamics (music) , virology , immunology , psychology , virus , clinical psychology , pedagogy , psychometrics , construct validity
Aim: To investigate the association of memory T cell subsets with viral response during treatment with interferon‐alpha (IFN‐α). Methods: To address this issue, the dynamics of memory T cell subsets was monitored in 57 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) during treatment with pegylated IFN‐α through testing the phenotypes of memory T cells with flowcytometry. Results: There were clear differences in the phenotypes of these cells during therapy. Memory T cells converted from the major subsets to the minor in the process of treatment with IFN‐α. Patients who presented a response showed significantly higher percentages of CD8+ T EM at 0 and 24 weeks (both P < 0.05), and lower frequency of CD8+ T CM than non‐responders at 0 and 24 weeks (both P < 0.05). Moreover, the average dosage of IFN‐α applied to patients with viral response to treatment was 1.43 ± 0.18 µg/kg, significantly higher than 1.31 ± 0.25 µg/kg in nonresponders ( P < 0.01). Conclusions: The quantity and quality of memory T cell subsets fluctuates during treatment with IFN‐α. High frequency of T EM subsets may be associated with response to treatment with IFN‐α. A better knowledge of mechanisms underlying the response to therapy may be important for development of new immunotherapeutic strategies to increase CD8 T‐cell effectiveness in CHB infection.