Influence of interferon alpha on the variation of Tc and Ts cells in the peripheral blood of patients with chronic hepatitis B / 中华肝脏病杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the influence of interferon-alpha on the variation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (Tc) and suppressor T lymphocytes (Ts) in the peripheral blood of 32 patients with chronic hepatitis B, and to analyse the relationship between the efficacy of interferon-alpha and the variation of Tc and Ts cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The peripheral blood Tc and Ts cells were detected by the double-staining immunocytochemistry technique.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>At the end of the treatment with interferon-alpha, there were 9 complete responders (CR), 12 partial responders (PR) and 11 non-responders (NR). Tc cells significantly increased and Ts cells markedly decreased in CR or PR group compared with the healthy control group. There was no significant difference in the level of Tc and Ts cells between CR and PR groups, and no significant difference in the level of Tc cells in NR, CR and PR groups, The Ts cells was significantly higher in NR group than in CR or PR group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The treatment of interferon-alpha can result in the change of Tc and Ts cells in patients with chronic hepatitis B. The variation of Ts cells may play an important role in the efficacy of interferon-alpha against hepatitis B virus.</p>