Role of prostaglandin e2on defective interferon-γ production during type b acute viral hepatitis

摘要

Interferon-γ(IFN-γ) and prostaglandin E2(PGE2) production was evaluated in cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells taken from patients with type B acute viral hepatitis at the onset of symptoms, at 1st and 2nd week of disease, and from healthy controls. Concanavalin A-stimulated cells cultured for 24, 48 and 72h showed significantly higher IFN-γlevels compared to basal release in both groups, whereas no statistically significant differences were found in most experimental conditions as regards PGE2synthesis. No differences were found in IFN-γproduction by comparing patients with acute viral hepatitis to the control group, whereas PGE2was significantly increased during the disease. IFN-γand PGE2levels did not show any significant change in acute viral hepatitis during the follow-up. A statistically significant correlation was found only in control group between IFN-γand PGE2levels in unstimulated cultures. PGE2seems to play a central role in regulating interferon production during viral infection. This may suggest a new therapeutic approach in viral hepatitis utilizing a combination of interferon and prostanoid inhibitory substances, above all in patients who do not respond to interferon therapy