Current status of immunomodulatory therapies in hcv infection

摘要

A number of immunomodulatory agents have been under study that facilitate a Th1 immune response, enhancing T-lymphocyte activity and stimulating interferon production. These include cytokines (interleukin [IL]-I2, IL-10, IL-2), histamine, oral interferon-like molecules, ribavirin analogues, interferon gamma, thymosin alpha-1, amantadine, inosine-5'-monophosphate dehydrogenase inhibitors, tumor necrosis factor antagonists, and nonspecific hepatoprotectants (glycyrrhizin and caspase inhibitors). The current available data on these drugs are analyzed with an attempt to determine their usefulness as future hepatitis C virus treatments.