Effect of Alpha-interferon on Natural Killer Cell Activity and Lymphocyte Subsets in Thalassemia Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C

Abstract

The variation of natural killer (NK) cell activity and lymphocyte subsets 20 h after a single test dose of α-IFN, was studied in 17 thalassemic patients with chronic hepatitis C. All patients had suspended the α-IFN therapy at least 12 months before the study: 10 were considered responders and 7 nonresponders. Also NK cell cytotoxicity after in vitro incubation with α-IFN was studied. The administration of a single dose of α-IFN increased NK cell cytotoxic activity significantly in the group of responders and in non-responders; moreover the NK cell cytotoxic activity after α-IFN in vitro incubation increased both in responders and nonresponders, but to a lesser degree than in healthy controls. Absolute values of CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes decreased significantly only in responders. In conclusion, our data suggest that the variation of NK cytotoxic activity and lymphocyte subsets after a test dose of α-IFN can be considered a parameter related to IFN biological effects.

Increased Serum Heat Shock Protein 27 Antibody Titers and Prooxidant-Antioxidant Balance in Patients with Beta-Thalassemia Major

“…Previous studies have found an increased number of activated T cells and higher levels of serum neopterin in these patients, which suggest chronic stimulation of the immune system. Possible explanations include oxidative stress, frequent antigenic stimuli through blood transfusions, viral and bacterial infections and iron overload [8,23,24]. The potential involvement of drug therapy is also possible.…”

“…It is known that thalassemic patients are affected by immune changes, including alterations in lymphocyte subsets, abnormal levels of cytokines and the presence of alloantibodies [21,22,23,24,25,26]. There is strong evidence of an association between endothelial cell activation and vascular complications in patients with β-thalassemia [6], whereas activation of the vascular endothelium is considered an important facet of inflammation, atherosclerosis [27,28,29], vasculitis and thrombosis [30,31,32,33,34,35,36].…”

Activated peripheral blood and endothelial cells in thalassemia patients

“…It is known that thalassemia patients suffer from immunomodulation, including alterations in lymphocyte subsets, abnormal levels of cytokines, and the presence of alloantibodies [1,2,3,4,5,6,7]. It has been reported that thalassemia children have decreased levels of natural killer cells and increased activation of the expression of interleukin (IL) 2 receptor (CD25), HLA-DR, and CD45RO on lymphocytes [7,8,9].…”

“…It has been reported that thalassemia children have decreased levels of natural killer cells and increased activation of the expression of interleukin (IL) 2 receptor (CD25), HLA-DR, and CD45RO on lymphocytes [7,8,9]. Some of these immune abnormalities may make some thalassemics more susceptible to infections [1,5,6].…”

“…Frequent antigenic stimuli through blood transfusions, viral and bacterial infections, and iron overload have been reported [1,4,7,8,9,21]. As a consequence of endothelial cell activation, blood cells (monocytes, neutrophils, T lymphocytes) adhere and migrate through the endothelium into the tissues [12,23,24,25,26].…”