Tilg H, Vogel W, Tratkiewicz J, Aulitzky WE, Herold M, Gruber M, Geissler D, Umlauft F, Judmaier G, Schwulera U. Pilot study of natural human interleukin-2 in patients with chronic hepatitis B. Immunomodulatory and antiviral effects.
J Hepatol 1993;
19:259-67. [PMID:
8301059 DOI:
10.1016/s0168-8278(05)80580-x]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Ten patients with chronic hepatitis B received increasing doses of nIL-2 (30,000 U, 100,000 U, 300,000 U, 1.0 million U) subcutaneously in a phase I trial. Each dose was applied once per week over 3 weeks. Serum samples were taken before and 2, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h after the first application of each dose level. Serum concentrations of interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-2, IL-6, interferon-alfa (IFN-alpha), IFN-gamma, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and GM-CSF as well as the cytokine-dependent serum components neopterin, beta-2-microglobulin (B2M), C-reactive protein (CPR), soluble IL-2-receptor (sIL-2R) and 2'-5'-oligoadenylate synthetase (2-5 OA) were assayed using ELISAs and RIAs. None of the samples tested contained measurable cytokine levels other than IL-2. A low and non-toxic dose of 300,000 U nIL-2 was already biologically active with induction of neopterin, B2M and sIL-2R. Dose-dependent changes peaked 24-48 h after application. The same patients were then enrolled in a phase II trial. Treatment in five of the patients was continued twice per week for 3 months with a biologically active dose of 300,000 U nIL-2 subcutaneously. Two of these patients as well as another five patients from the original group were treated with 1.0 million U nIL-2 subcutaneously, twice weekly for 3 months. Neither a biologically active but non-toxic dose of 300,000 U nIL-2, nor a toxic dose of 1.0 million U resulted in permanent clearance of hepatitis B early antigen (HBeAg).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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