[Clinical significance of cytokine level and T-cell lymphocyte response to B and C hepatic viral antigens in patients with type C and B+C hepatitis receiving antiviral therapy].

The authors studied the levels of cytokines (interleukin (IL)-1, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)) and cell response to HBV and HCV in the dynamics in patients with acute mixed hepatitis (B+C) who recovered or became chronically ill, as well as before and after treatment of hepatitis C. Patients who later recovered had high levels of IL-2 and IFN-gamma during the acute phase of the disease, and displayed T-lymphocyte sensitization to HbeAg, Hbcore Ag, and the non-structural protein HCV NS3. A significant elevation of IL-2 level and, especially, IFN-gamma level, as well as the appearance of T-lymphocyte response to HCV NS3, HCVcore Ag, and HCV NS4 was observed during antiviral therapy.