ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Development and specificities of anti-interferon neutralizing antibodies in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with pegylated interferon-α

  1. C. Scagnolari1,
  2. S. Trombetti1,
  3. A. Soldà1,
  4. M. Milella2,
  5. G. B. Gaeta3,
  6. G. Angarano2,
  7. G. Scotto4,
  8. N. Caporaso5,
  9. F. Morisco5,6,
  10. R. Cozzolongo7,
  11. G. Giannelli8,
  12. M. Fasano2,
  13. T. Santantonio4,
  14. G. Antonelli1

Article first published online: 22 DEC 2011

DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-0691.2011.03729.x

Issue

Clinical Microbiology and Infection

Clinical Microbiology and Infection

Volume 18, Issue 10, pages 1033–1039, October 2012

Additional Information

How to Cite

Scagnolari, C., Trombetti, S., Soldà, A., Milella, M., Gaeta, G. B., Angarano, G., Scotto, G., Caporaso, N., Morisco, F., Cozzolongo, R., Giannelli, G., Fasano, M., Santantonio, T. and Antonelli, G. (2012), Development and specificities of anti-interferon neutralizing antibodies in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with pegylated interferon-α. Clinical Microbiology and Infection, 18: 1033–1039. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-0691.2011.03729.x

Author Information

  1. 1

     Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratory of Virology, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome

  2. 2

     Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Bari, Bari

  3. 3

     Unit of Infectious Diseases, Second University of Naples, Naples

  4. 4

     Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Foggia, Foggia

  5. 5

     Gastroenterology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples

  6. 6

     Department of Food Science, University of Naples ‘Federico II”, Naples

  7. 7

     Division of Gastroenterology 1, “S. de Bellis” Hospital—IRCCS, Castellana Grotte

  8. 8

     Department of Internal Medicine, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Section of Internal Medicine; University of Bari, Bari, Italy

* Corresponding author: C. Scagnolari, Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratory of Virology, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Viale di Porta Tiburtina 28, 00185 Rome, Italy E-mail: carolina.scagnolari@uniroma1.it

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 10 SEP 2012
  2. Article first published online: 22 DEC 2011
  3. Accepted manuscript online: 16 NOV 2011 10:16AM EST
  4. Original Submission: 26 July 2011; Revised Submission: 26 October 2011; Accepted: 10 November 2011 Editor: L. Kaiser Article published online: 17 November 2011

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Keywords:

  • Hepatitis C virus;
  • interferon;
  • neutralizing antibodies;
  • seroconversion;
  • sustained virological response

Clin Microbiol Infect 2012; 18: 1033–1039

Abstract

Only limited data are available on the development of neutralizing antibodies (NAB) in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) treated with pegylated interferon-α (PEG-IFN-α). The aim of this study was to evaluate the immunogenicity of PEG-IFN-α when administered to CHC patients who had or had not previously received standard IFN-α therapy. In addition, the specificities of NAB, together with the ability of leucocyte (LE) -IFN-α to re-establish therapeutic responsiveness in NAB-positive patients, were evaluated. NAB were assessed using a quantitative, standardized, virus-induced cytopathic effect assay. The seroconversion rate to PEG-IFN-α was higher in patients who had received previous standard IFN-α treatment than in those treated exclusively with PEG-IFN-α. Also, NAB produced during PEG-IFN-α therapy were unable to neutralize LE-IFN-α entirely, even though they can neutralize several IFN-α subtypes. In addition, the results indicate that a change to LE-IFN-α therapy can be associated with restoration of clinical responses in NAB-positive patients who had become resistant after showing an initial response to PEG-IFN-α treatment. This study emphasizes the importance of evaluating NAB development in CHC patients who become resistant to PEG-IFN-α treatment, and suggests management alternatives for patients who develop NAB.

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