SPONTANEOUS PRODUCTION OF TUMOR NECROSIS FACTOR-ALPHA AND INTERLEUKIN-1-BETA DURING INTERFERON-ALPHA TREATMENT OF CHRONIC HBV INFECTION

Seven chronic carriers of hepatitis B virus (HBV) were studied during treatment with interferon-α to determine whether tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα) or interleukin-1β (IL-1β) contributed to the elimination of HBV. Four patients responded to interferon-α with clearance of HBeAg and permanent inhibition of HBV replication within 3-12 weeks; in each of these patients, the changes were accompanied by substantial rises in spontaneous in-vitro production of TNFα and IL-1β by peripheral blood mononuclear cells from previously undetectable levels. There was little or no change in spontaneous TNFα and IL-1β production in the three patients who did not lose HBeAg in response to interferon-α. These findings suggest that TNFα and IL-1β may contribute to the permanent elimination during interferon-α treatment of hepatocytes supporting viral infection and that the therapeutic potential of these cytokines is worthy of investigation. © 1990.