Neutrophil function and apoptosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with pegylated interferon α and ribavirin.

The role of neutrophils in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis C as well as the effect of pegylated interferon α (PEG-IFN-α) and ribavirin treatment on neutrophil function is not precisely known. The study included 32 patients with CCH aged between 19 and 58 years (mean 33.5 years). Before and after 12 weeks of treatment with Peg-IFN-α and ribavirin, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, expression of adhesion molecules CD11b/MAC-1, CD16, CD18 and CD62L on neutrophils, as well as apoptosis and necrosis of these cells were analyzed with the use of flow cytometry. During antiviral therapy, a statistically significant decrease of mean fluorescence intensity for CD16 high and CD62 and increase for CD11b/MAC-1 along with the increased apoptosis and decreased necrosis of neutrophils were observed. After 12 weeks of treatment, intracellular ROS production by unstimulated neutrophils did not change, but after stimulation with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, statistically significant increase of ROS level was observed. During PEG-IFN-α and ribavirin treatment, activation of neutrophil function and increased ROS production were reported, which possibly resulted in accelerated apoptosis of these cells.