ABSTRACT
Infection with hepatitis C virus [HCV] is a leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide, little is known about how this virus is able to persist or whether this persistance might be because of its ability to alter the early innate immune response. The major HCV envelope protein E2 has been shown to bind to CD81; this leads to restricted cytotoxicity mediated by NK cells. Transfer factor advanced formula plus is formed of bovine and egg colostrum and has been found to increase NK cell activity by 437% above the base line. It is produced by 4 life research company/USA. Also, it contains several growth factors as insulin growth factors [IGF I], [IGF II], Transforming growth factor beta [TGF-B] and epidermal growth factor [EGF]. Assessment of Natural Killer [NK] cell activation by transfer factor in patients with chronic HCV infection whom are not candidate for standard therapy. 30 patients with chronic HCV infection, who are not candidate for standard therapy were subjected to: [1] History and clinical examination. [2] Liver function tests. [3] Viral markers [HBS Ag, HCV Ab]. [4] HCV RNA by PCR in the serum. [5] Flow cytometric analysis of NK cells in blood sample. [6] Patients were given transfer factor plus capsules twice daily before meals for 3 months then re-evaluation was done. Significant reduction of Mean alanine aminotransferase [SGPT] from 79.27 +/- 71.47 to 30.35 +/- 6.21, aspartate aminotransferase [SGOT] from 80.73 +/- 46.88 to 36.40 +/- 3.23 and serum Bilirubin from 1.58 +/- 0.72 to 0.86 +/- 0.33. Significant elevation of serum albumin from 3.19 +/- 0.70 to 3.59 +/- 0.54 and prothormbin activity from 0.63 +/- 0.14 to 0.82 +/- 0.12. No significant change in serum HCV RNA by PCR nor NK cell count by flow cytometry. Transfer factor advanced formula plus is an effective new therapeutic option for patients with chronic HCV infection who are not candidate for standard therapy