Influence of the inflammatory response on treatment of hepatitis C with triple therapy

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical 2018-11, Vol.51 (6), p.731-736
• Main Authors: Winckler, Fernanda Cristina, Braz, Aline Marcia Marques, Silva, Vanessa Nogueira da, Golim, Marjorie de Assis, Andrade, Vanessa Gutierrez de, Machado, Paulo Eduardo de Abreu, Silveira, Liciana Vaz de Arruda, Silva, Giovanni Faria
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antiviral Agents - administration & dosage; Cell activation; Chronic infection; Cytokine; Cytokines; Cytokines - blood; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Fibrosis; Flow Cytometry; Genotype; Genotypes; Hepatitis; Hepatitis C; Hepatitis C, Chronic - blood; Hepatitis C, Chronic - drug therapy; Humans; Immune response; Immune system; Inflammation; Inflammatory response; Interferon; Interleukin 6; Interleukin 8; Interleukins; Liver; Liver diseases; Lymphocytes; Lymphocytes T; Male; Middle Aged; Oligopeptides - administration & dosage; Patients; Proline - administration & dosage; Proline - analogs & derivatives; Prospective Studies; RANTES; Ribavirin; Ribonucleic acid; RNA; RNA viruses; Therapy; Treatment; Treatment Outcome; TROPICAL MEDICINE; Viral Load; Viruses
• ISSN: 0037-8682; 1678-9849; 1678-9849
• DOI: 10.1590/0037-8682-0137-2018

Chronic hepatitis C is a leading cause of liver disease. Infection triggers an immediate immune response in the host that is mediated by humoral/cellular mechanisms. T cells respond to infection via secretion of cytokines, which inhibit or stimulate one another, leading to cytokine imbalance and ultimately affecting treatment. Studies using interferon (IFN) and ribavirin (RBV) showed that TCD8+ cells and cytokine levels are associated with sustainable virological response (SVR). However, studies that investigated the effects of triple therapy (TT) are limited. The study included hepatitis C virus (HCV)+ RNA, naives, genotype 1, ≥18 years, and advanced fibrosis (F≥3) patients. Samples were collected at baseline and after 12 weeks (W12) of TT. Six cytokines were analyzed by flow cytometry. Of 31 patients, four were excluded (two deaths, one interrupted TT, and one F2 patient). Of the 27 remaining patients, 21 (78%) were cirrhotic. SVR was achieved in 63% of the patients. The patients had a mean age of 55.11 ± 10.03 years. Analyses at baseline showed that the chemokine CCL5/Regulated on Activation, Normal T Cell Expressed and Secreted (RANTES) (p=0.04) and interleukin (IL)-6 (p=0.02), which was associated with SVR. RANTES (p=0.04) and IL-8 (p=0.01) levels were associated with SVR at W12. Similar to patterns observed during double therapy, IL-6, IL-8, and RANTES levels were associated with SVR in TT, indicating the potential role of interferon in immune response to hepatitis C virus.