Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: EC:2.7.7.7 (DNA polymerase)
 17,007 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Recombinant human interleukin 2 was administered to 10 patients with chronic type B hepatitis as a part of a pilot study to evaluate its antiviral activity. Patients received 1 to 3 x 10(5) units per day of interleukin 2 for 21 to 28 days, and all completed the treatment schedule. During therapy, serum values of DNA polymerase decreased in 6 and became negative in four patients. However, when therapy was discontinued, DNA polymerase levels increased to pretreatment levels in most cases. Serum HBeAg levels did not change during treatment. Serum aminotransferase levels transiently increased in 6 of the 10 patients during therapy; but once therapy was stopped, levels fell markedly. Side effects of interleukin 2 therapy included fever, chills, anorexia and fatigue. After 1 year of follow-up, three treated patients had lost HBeAg and had marked improvement in aminotransferase levels. These serologic and biochemical improvements occurred 1.5 to 11 months after therapy was stopped. Whether a 3- to 4-week course of interleukin 2 therapy leads to an increased rate of seroconversion from HBeAg to antibody in chronic type B hepatitis deserves further evaluation in prospectively randomized, controlled trials.
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PMID:Pilot study of recombinant human interleukin 2 for chronic type B hepatitis. 313 Dec 27

Five patients with HBe antigen-positive chronic active hepatitis were treated with recombinant interleukin 2 (r-IL2) for 3 to 4 wk. r-IL2 inhibited HBV replication during therapy as judged by decrease of serum DNA polymerase activity. Two of five patients lost HBeAg from serum. Furthermore, characteristic increases of serum aminotransferase were observed during r-IL2 therapy. This rise might have been mediated by enhanced immune responses to hepatitis B virus and increased rate of lysis of the infected hepatocytes. No consistent changes in immune markers such as OKT4 positive cells or OKT8 positive cells were demonstrated during or after the therapy. The activities of natural killer cells gradually increased during therapy, although they tended to decrease within 1 wk after the start of r-IL2 injections. In two responders who lost HBeAg from serum, the natural killer activity was high before the therapy, compared with nonresponders. Furthermore, the percentage of OKT4-positive cells in the responders was increased within 1 to 2 wk after starting r-IL2 injections. These findings suggest that the responders might be immunologically different from the nonresponders. Recombinant-IL2 therapy over short periods did not result in complete clearance of hepatitis B virus. Further studies with high doses of r-IL2 given over longer periods are warranted.
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PMID:Effects of human recombinant interleukin 2 in patients with chronic hepatitis B: a preliminary report. 349 71

Eleven patients with hepatitis B (HB) virus related chronic hepatitis were treated with recombinant interleukin 2 (rIL 2). Two hundred and fifty to 1000 units were given intravenously once daily for seven to 28 days. In five patients serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase activity rose transiently. Six patients showed a decrease in HBV DNA polymerase. One patient lost HBs, e antigens (Ags) and gained anti-HBs, e antibodies, while one lost HBs Ag and another HBe Ag. 2'-5' oligoadenylate synthetase activity in mononuclear cells in the peripheral blood did not change during treatment. The number of CD4 positive (helper/inducer) cells and natural killer cell activity increased after therapy (p less than 0.05, p less than 0.01). These results suggest that rIL 2 acts as an immunomodulatory agent enhancing host immune activity and may be beneficial in patients with chronic HB virus infection.
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PMID:Effect of recombinant interleukin 2 on hepatitis B e antigen positive chronic hepatitis. 350 87