Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: EC:2.6.1.2 (alanine aminotransferase)
 26,722 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

HLA class I antigen expression on peripheral blood mononuclear cells was evaluated by flow cytometry in 21 HBeAg-positive patients with chronic hepatitis B. Measurements were made before, during or after treatment with recombinant interferon-alpha-2b, either given alone or after a 6 wk course of prednisone. Immunohistochemical staining for human leukocyte class I antigen was also evaluated in 28 percutaneous liver biopsy specimens either obtained before or after therapy (N = 27) and during therapy in one instance. The amount of HLA class I antigen on peripheral blood mononuclear cells varied markedly among individual patients, but the overall results indicated that the level of inducible antigen did not correlate with increments of ALT during therapy or with a virological response to therapy. Hepatocyte staining for HLA class I antigen was observed in a minority of biopsy specimens (29%) and also did not appear to predict a response or correlate with the severity of histological disease. These data do not support current theories concerning pathogenetic mechanisms in chronic hepatitis B nor do they suggest that spontaneous display of HLA class I antigen on hepatocytes or interferon-induced expression of these antigens on peripheral blood mononuclear cells is a critical determinant for a response to therapy.
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PMID:HLA class I antigen expression as a measure of response to antiviral therapy of chronic hepatitis B. 202 88

SNMC (stronger Neominophagen C), whose active component is glycyrrhizin (a saponin extracted from licorice) has been utilized to improve the liver function in Japan. To assess the effectiveness of interferon (IFN), SNMC combination therapy in patients, who did not respond to IFN therapy alone, we investigate 28 patients with histology of CAH 2B at 12 weeks after IFN administration. 15 patients received IFN alone continuously (group A), and 13 patients received IFN with SNMC (group B) for 12 weeks thereafter. Normalization of serum ALT level was observed in 33.3% of group A and in 64.3% of group B. Disappearance of serum HVC RNA was 13.3% in group A and 38.5% in group B. But these data were not significant statistically. Histological improvement was not significant, between group A and B by Knodel's HAI score, but reversal of histological grade (Europe classification) was noted more frequently in group B. A case of posttransfusion hepatitis type C, exacerbated by IFN therapy is reported. HLA class I antigen was strongly expressed in the liver tissue after administration of IFN. In this case, potentiation of cellular immunity was thought to be the cause of the exacerbation and IFN, SNMC combination therapy was useful in improving liver function.
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PMID:[Effectiveness of interferon, glycyrrhizin combination therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C]. 752 24

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a serious problem because of its world wide distribution and possible adverse chronic sequalae such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Over the past 20 years, many antiviral or immunomodulatory agents, or both, have been used in patients with chronic HBV infection. Among immunomodulatory agents, levamisole, BCG, picibanil and interleukin-2 have been shown to be ineffective. Corticosteroid therapy is also ineffective and can cause deleterious effects in chronic HBV infection. Thymosin-alpha 1 therapy is currently in phase III clinical trial. Among antiviral agents, acyclovir, dideoxynucleosides, suramin, zidovudine and ganciclovir have been shown to be ineffective and have intolerable side effects. While adenine arabinoside (Ara-A) and its monophosphate derivative (Ara-AMP) are effective agents if the treatment course is long enough, they have been withdrawn from investigative use because of their substantial neuromuscular toxicity. Interferon-alpha may directly inhibit HBV replication and enhance hepatocyte HLA class I antigen expression with subsequent increase of T-cell mediated cytotoxicity. Randomized, controlled clinical trials have shown that 25% to 50% of adult patients with elevated alanine transaminase (ALT) levels lost HBeAg and HBV-DNA when treated with IFN-alpha at a dose of 5MU daily or 10 MU three times a week for 3 to 6 months. In view of the fact that the response rate is far from satisfactory, particularly in Asian patients, combination therapies including interferon alpha with Ara-AMP, acyclovir, didoxynucleoside or interferon-gamma have been studied. Most forms of combination therapy have been shown to be of limited effect.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:[Drug therapy in patients with chronic type B hepatitis]. 754 84

The relationship between 2', 5'-oligoadenylate synthetase (2-5AS) and HLA class I antigen in the hepatocyte of patients with type B or type C chronic hepatitis with and without interferon (IFN) therapy was investigated. The expression of HLA class I antigen of hepatocytes of biopsied specimen and PBL HLA class I antigen expression showed relevancy. Then, the HLA antigen expression of peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL) and the 2-5AS activity of peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) were analyzed. In patients with type B or type C hepatitis, the mean activity of PBMC 2-5AS was significantly higher than that of healthy controls. Also the HLA class I antigen expression of PBL was significantly intense in patients with type B or type C hepatitis compared with healthy controls. In the acute exacerbated phase of type B chronic hepatitis, the HLA class I antigen expression of PBL and 2-5AS activity of PBMC increased along with elevation of serum GPT and then decreased with the remission of serum GPT. These results suggest that endogenously produced IFN leads the lysis of hepatocyte infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) by cytotoxic T cells, and the restriction of HBV replication by activation of the 2-5A system simultaneously, and then leads the elimination of HBV. The activity of PBMC 2-5AS and the expression of PBL HLA class I antigen increased significantly during IFN therapy. In type B chronic hepatitis, the effective cases showed relatively high activity of serum 2-5AS compared with the non-effective cases. On the other hand, there were no significant differences in PBL HLA class I antigen expression between effective cases and non-effective cases. In type C chronic hepatitis, most patients with type III and type IV HCV genotype showed disappearance of HCV-RNA regardless of serum 2-5AS activity. In patients with type II HCV genotype, the serum 2-5AS activity was related to the anti-viral effect of IFN therapy.
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PMID:[Mechanisms of the effect of interferon (IFN) therapy in patients with type B and C chronic hepatitis]. 768 26