In vitro alpha-interferon treatment of peripheral blood mononuclear cells improves interleukin-2 activity in HBV-related chronic liver disease

To investigate mitogen-induced helper T cell activity in patients with HBV-related chronic liver disease (CLD), Interleukin-2 (IL-2) activity was assessed by an IL-2 bioassay using phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated mononuclear cells (MNC). IL-2 activity was significantly reduced in patients with CLD (P less than 0.01), and was comparable to controls in those with minimal liver damage, indicating that decreased IL-2 activity is not due to the presence of HBV X MNC from 2 of the 3 patients treated with alpha-interferon (alpha-IFN) showed the highest IL-2 activity. In vitro preincubation of MNC with alpha-IFN before stimulation with PHA, led to a significant increase in IL-2 activity in all subjects (P less than 0.01). The improvement in IL-2 activity induced by alpha-IFN may be, in part, responsible for the therapeutic effect of this agent in HBV-related CLD.