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Soluble β2-μ-Associated and β2-μ-Free HLA Class I Heavy Chain Serum Levels in Interferon-α Nonresponder Chronic Hepatitis C Patients. Markers of Immune Activation, and Response to Antiviral Retreatment

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Abstract

The serum levels of soluble β2-μ-associated and β2-μ-free HLA class I heavy chains were determined in 28 interferon-α nonresponder chronic hepatitis C patients retreated with interferon-α plus ribavirin and in 70 healthy subjects. The baseline levels of β2-μ-associated and β2-μ-free HLA class I heavy chains were significantly higher in patients than in healthy controls(P = 0.001). The levels of β2-μ-associated HLA class I heavy chains significantly increased in responder patients with respect to nonresponders at the third month of treatment(P = 0.03). At the sixth month of treatment and after 6 months of follow up the levels of β2-μ-associated HLA class I heavy chains decreased in responder patients and increased in nonresponders. The levels of β2-μ-free HLA class I heavy chains showed only minor changes during and after treatment. We suggest that the determination of hepatitis C virus RNA levels combined with soluble β2-μ-associated HLA class I heavy chains, as a marker of immune activation, could identify interferon-α non responder chronic hepatitis C patients most likely to respond to a retreatment with interferon-α plus ribavirin.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, 16132, Genoa, Italy

    Francesco Puppo, Paola Contini, Massimo Ghio, Sabrina Brenci & Francesco Indiveri

  2. Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, 16132, Genoa, Italy

    Francesco Torre, Renata Brizzolara, Nicoletta Sinelli, Nadia Campo & Antonino Picciotto

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  1. Francesco Puppo
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  2. Francesco Torre
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  3. Paola Contini
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  4. Massimo Ghio
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  5. Sabrina Brenci
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  8. Nadia Campo
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  9. Francesco Indiveri
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  10. Antonino Picciotto
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Puppo, F., Torre, F., Contini, P. et al. Soluble β2-μ-Associated and β2-μ-Free HLA Class I Heavy Chain Serum Levels in Interferon-α Nonresponder Chronic Hepatitis C Patients. Markers of Immune Activation, and Response to Antiviral Retreatment. J Clin Immunol 20, 486–490 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026468001834

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