The effect of interferon therapy on erythrocyte membrane Na+,K+ ATP activity in patients with chronic hepatitis B and C virus infections

Kuralay F., Tanyalcin T., Kutay F., Ersoz G., Yuce G., Batur Y.

BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY INTERNATIONAL, vol.45, no.6, pp.1189-1198, 1998 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 45 Issue: 6
  • Publication Date: 1998
  • Doi Number: 10.1080/15216549800203422
  • Journal Name: BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.1189-1198
  • Keywords: erythrocyte membrane, interferon therapy, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, CCL4-INDUCED LIVER-CIRRHOSIS, RAT-LIVER, SILYMARIN, PREVENTION, DIAGNOSIS, EFFICACY, DISEASE
  • Dokuz Eylül University Affiliated: No

Abstract

In order to evaluate the effect of alpha interferon on erythrocyte membrane Na-,K- ATPase (EC 3.6. 1.37) activity, 10 patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and 8 patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection were investigated. Erythrocyte membrane Na+,K+ ATPase activity was determined in controls and in patients with HBV and HCV infection. Na+, K+ ATPase activity was significantly less in untreated patients with (HBV) infection (n = 20; 0.134 +/- 0.073 mu mol of phosphate produced per milligram of protein per hour) and (HCV) infection (n = 11; 0.44 +/- 0.049) when compared to the controls (n = 10; 0.219 +/- 0.055). Among these subjects patients were treated with interferon and following treatment, significant elevation of Na+, K+ ATPase activity was seen in patients with HCV (n = 8; 0.183 +/- 0.044; P = 0.049) and HBV (n = 10, 0.213 +/- 0.095, P = 0.0069) infections when compared with the pre-treatment values (n = 8; 0.152 +/- 0.050) and (n = 10, 0.131 +/- 0.083), respectively. Normalization of serum alanin amino transferase levels (ALT) at treatment cessation was seen in 8 of 10 (%80) HBV infected patients of whom 2 of 8 (%25) had sustained ALT responses within three months after the end of treatment. In HCV infected patients 1 of 8 (%12.5) had sustained response following treatment. At the end of treatment, although Na+, K+ ATPase was restored in both of the patients groups, relative changes in enzyme activity in relation to relative reduction in ALT levels as a response to IFN therapy were not correlated.