INCREASE IN THE PROPORTION OF CD56(+)T CELLS IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC TYPE-C HEPATITIS AFTER TREATMENT WITH ALPHA-INTERFERON

Recently CD56(+)T cells, which are unique T cells that have one of the NK markers and are few in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PB MNC), have been found to be predominant in the liver. We investigated the phenotypical changes of PB MNC in 18 patients with chronic type C hepatitis before and during alpha-interferon (IFN-alpha) treatment. In the treatment response group (n = 11), CD56(+)T cells increased significantly (P < 0.05). Conversely, no increase of CD56(+)T cells was observed in the non-response group (n = 7). Phenotypically studied, CD56(+)T cells were mostly CD8(+), about half comprised gamma delta-TCR and all expressed high levels of LFA-1. These results suggest that CD56(+)T cells might play an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic type C hepatitis.