Expression of transforming growth factor alpha in the liver before and after interferon alfa therapy for chronic hepatitis B

• Published in: Hepatology (Baltimore, Md.) Md.), 1995-10, Vol.22 (4), p.1021-1026
• Main Authors: Morimitsu, Yosuke, Kleiner, David E., Conjeevaram, Hari S., Hsia, Chu Chieh, Di Bisceglie, Adrian M., Tabor, Edward
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Alanine Transaminase - blood; Antiviral Agents - therapeutic use; Female; Hepatitis B - metabolism; Hepatitis B - pathology; Hepatitis B - therapy; Hepatitis B - virology; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens - analysis; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Interferon Type I - therapeutic use; Liver - metabolism; Liver - pathology; Liver - virology; Male; Middle Aged; Recombinant Proteins; Transforming Growth Factor alpha - metabolism
• ISSN: 0270-9139; 1527-3350
• DOI: 10.1002/hep.1840220402

The effect of interferon alfa (IFN‐α) therapy on the expression of transforming growth factor alpha (TGF‐α) in the liver during chronic hepatitis B was investigated. Serial liver biopsy specimens were evaluated from 35 patients who had participated in a randomized, controlled trial of recombinant human IFN‐α for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B. Percutaneous liver biopsy specimens obtained before and 1 year after entry in the trial were sectioned and stained with a monoclonal antibody to TGF‐α in an avidin‐biotin‐peroxidase‐complex system. The expression of TGF‐α in each section was evaluated blindly (with respect to treatment group and order of biopsies) and was numerically scored. There was no significant difference in TGF‐α expression before or after therapy between 13 patients receiving daily IFN‐α, 13 receiving alternate‐day IFN‐α, and 9 receiving no therapy. Sustained clearance of HBV‐DNA and DNA polymerase activity occurred in 8 of 26 treated patients (“responders”); the 18 other patients were “nonresponders.” Expression of TGF‐α before IFN‐α therapy was significantly higher in responders than in nonresponders; after IFN‐α therapy, TGF‐α expression decreased significantly among responders compared with nonresponders and untreated controls. Thus, the level of expression of TGF‐α in the liver, which was correlated with the severity of inflammation in the liver in this study, appeared to be predictive of the response to IFN‐α therapy in chronic hepatitis B, with a higher level of expression indicating a greater likelihood that the patient would respond. (HEPATOLOGY 1995; 22:1021–1026.).