Peripheral blood leukocytes from patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection were studied for their capacity to produce interferon (IFN) alpha or IFN gamma. Yields of IFN alpha in leukocyte cultures stimulated with influenza A virus or human leukemic cells were significantly lower than those obtained from healthy controls. Production of IFN gamma in response to induction with protein A of Staphylococcus aureus was also significantly diminished. Defects of IFN production in leukocyte cultures showed no correlation with active viral replication or the degree of severity of HBV-associated liver disease. The demonstration of partial defects of endogenous IFN production provides a rationale for using IFN replacement therapy in patients with chronic HBV infection.
Acute encephalopathy was associated with the presence of human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV I) antigen and seroconversion to anti-HIV I in a 27-year-old homosexual man. Examination of consecutive sera from the patient revealed circulating interferon (IFN) alpha which became detectable with the appearance of HIV I antigen but before development of anti-HIV I. Serum IFN was present for only a limited time and was not demonstrable after neurological symptoms resolved. It may be speculated that circulating antiviral activity contributed to the clinical manifestations of acute HIV I infection.
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