Authors: Amati, L.; Caradonna, L.; Magrone, T.; Mastronardi, M.L.; Cuppone, R.; Cozzolongo, R.; Manghisi, O.G.; Caccavo, D.; Amoroso, A.; Jirillo, E.

Source: Current Pharmaceutical Design, Volume 8, Number 11, 1 May 2002 , pp. 981-993(13)

Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers

Abstract:

The balance between T helper (h)1 and Th2 responsiveness seems to represent a key event in the evolution of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. In particular, Th1 cytokines [interleukin (IL-2) and interferon (IFN-)] have been demonstrated to mediate the antiviral immune response.

Serum levels of Th1 cytokines (IL-2 and IFN-) as well as of Th2 products (IL-4 and IL-10) were determined in a group of HCV-positive patients before and after treatment with IFN- and Ribavirin (RIB).

Results indicate that responder patients exhibited increased levels of IFN- and IL-10, while this enhancement was not observed in non-responder patients. In this respect, the major effect exerted by the combined therapy with IFN- / RIB could be represented by the attainment of a re-equilibrium between inflammatory (Th1) and antiinflammatory (Th2) mechanisms.

In this framework, according to current literature, novel therapeutical approaches to treat HCV infection are represented by administration of recombinant IL-2 and IL-10.

Keywords: ifn; ribavirin; responsiveness; gamma; interleukin; recombinant interleukin

Document Type: Review article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612024607036

Publication date: 2002-05-01

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• Current Pharmaceutical Design publishes timely in-depth reviews covering all aspects of current research in rational drug design. Each issue is devoted to a single major therapeutic area. A Guest Editor who is an acknowledged authority in a therapeutic field has solicits for each issue comprehensive and timely reviews from leading researchers in the pharmaceutical industry and academia.
  
  Each thematic issue of Current Pharmaceutical Design covers all subject areas of major importance to modern drug design, including: medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, drug targets and disease mechanism.

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