Human Herpesviruses Increase the Severity of Hepatitis.

Acute and chronic liver diseases are a major global public health problem; nevertheless, the etiology of 12-30% of cases remains obscure. The purpose of this research was to study the incidence of human herpesviruses (HHVs) cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and HHV-6 in patients with hepatitis and to examine the effect of HHV on the disease severity. We studied the clinical materials of 259 patients with hepatitis treated in Infectious Clinic n.1 (Moscow) and the archived materials of 118 patients with hepatitis C. HHV DNA was detected in the whole blood in 13.5% of patients with hepatitis B or C and in 10.1% of patients with hepatitis of unspecified etiology. EBV demonstrated the highest incidence (58.1%). Cirrhosis was diagnosed in 50% of patients with HHV and in 15.6% of patients without HHV. In patients with hepatitis C, the frequency of HHV was higher in liver biopsy (38.7%) compared to blood. The clinical and virological indicators of hepatitis were considerably higher in patients with coinfection. Conclusion: HHV detected in patients with viral hepatitis has been associated with a significant effect on the severity of the disease, and we suggest monitoring HHV DNA in patients with severe hepatitis and/or poor response to antiviral drugs.

Role of interferon homeostasis in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma in children.

Interferon homeostasis was studied in children with bronchial asthma (BA) at different stages of the disease. The control group consisted of 10 children with no predisposition to atopic reaction. Children with BA showed a disfunction of interferon homeostasis, with a significant decline in the leukocyte ability to produce IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma. The concentration of blood serum IFN-gamma was reduced at all stages of BA, with a more significant decrease during BA attacks than during the remission period. IFN-gamma synthesis disturbances in BA children were stable and resistant to therapeutic treatment by recombinant IFN-alpha2b (Viferon). Viferon normalized the production of IFN-alpha, and the effect remained unchanged during a half-year examination period. Thus, Viferon appears promising as part of a complex therapy for children with BA at remission stages and frequent respiratory infections.

Immune Homeostasis and Interferon Status of Newborns from Mothers with Cytomegalovirus and Herpes Simplex Virus Infections.

Cell mediated and humoral immunity, immunoregulation compartment, phagocyte system and interferon status were analyzed during the first day of life in 96 newborns from mothers with cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus infections as well as in 20 newborns from mothers with physiological course of the pregnancy and delivery. As a result of this study the next characteristics were found in newborns of the experimental group: activation of T-compartment of immunity with intense emigration of increased number of early precursor T lymphocytes into the peripheral blood; alteration of the immunoregulation compartment with reduction (or a tendency of reduction) of absolute number of T lymphocytes (CD3(+)), CD4(+) helpers-inducers, the cytotoxic T lymphocyte fraction within CD8(+) cells and increase of the T suppressor fraction; increase of the level of cells, which express receptors for IL-2 (CD25(+)); increase of the number of NK and activated NK (CD16(+)CD8(+)); decrease of the absolute and relative number of mature B lymphocytes (CD20(+)); increase of IgM and IgA synthesis; increased level of the immature forms of neutrophiles and reduced phagocytic ability of some phagocytes; reduction of IFN-ggr; and increase of IFN-alpha level. Thus, cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus were shown to affect unfavorably the development of immunity during ontogenesis with alteration of the immune homeostasis, reflecting intrauterine activation of the antigen-specific immune response. All above mentioned may serve as an indication for immunocorrecton therapy, and in particular for IFN preparations with aim to correct immune and IFN deficiency among such children immediately after their birth.

Immune and Interferon Status in Newborns after Viferon Treatment of Pregnant Women with Cytomegalovirus and Herpes Infection.

Interferon status, cell-mediated and humoral immunity were analyzed in 52 newborns during the first day of life, who were born from mothers infected with cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus and treated with viferon in the complex therapy. Comparative group included 44 newborns from mothers with the same infections, who did not receive viferon in the complex therapy. IFN status before delivery as well as parameters of immunity in pregnant women before and after viferon therapy were investigated. Analysis of the phenotype characteristics of lymphocytes in women, treated with viferon, showed increase in relative number of T lymphocytes, CD8(+) lymphocytes, growth of decreased and reduction of increased values of immunoregulatory index, increase in relative number of natural killers. Titers of IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma were higher as compared to both the control group and the values in untreated with viferon pregnant women. Decrease of IFN-alpha production and increase of IFN-gamma level were found when IFN status was evaluated in newborns of the experimental group as compared to newborns from mothers, who were not treated with viferon. Viferon treatment of pregnant women was shown to result in normalization of phenotype characteristics of lymphocytes of newborns, in increasing HLA DR antigen expression and inhibition of antigen stimulation, reducing number of NK and activated NK. Thus, viferon treatment of pregnant women with CMV and HSV infections in the 3rd trimester of gestation contributed to favorable course of pregnancy, enhanced antiviral immunity, and reduced frequency of intrauterine infections. Viferon treatment of the infected mothers decreased antigenic load of fetal immunity and normalized immunological parameters in newborns, contributing to development of normal immune response in case of intrauterine infection.