Immunological modifications during treatment with thymosin [alpha]1 plus antiviral therapy in chronic hepatitis C

• Published in: Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences Vol. 1194; no. 1; p. 147
• Main Authors: Grandini, E, Cannoletta, F, Scuteri, A, tini, C, Loggi, E, Cursaro, C, Riili, A, Di Donato, R, Gramenzi, A, Bernardi, M, Andreone, P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.05.2010
• Subjects: Hepatitis; Immune system
• ISSN: 0077-8923; 1749-6632
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2010.05461.x

The current standard therapy for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the combination of peginterferon and ribavirin, although many patients fail to clear the virus and their retreatment options are still unsatisfactory. Thymosin [alpha]1 (T[alpha]1) is an immunomodulating agent that has been proposed as complementary therapy for chronic HCV, especially in the setting of difficult-to-treat patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate, in patients nonresponsive to previous Peg-based therapy, the effect of standard antiviral therapy with or without T[alpha]1 on peripheral lymphocyte subsets. Twenty-four patients, 12 receiving T[alpha]1 and 12 standard therapy, were enrolled. Peripheral subpopulations were analyzed by flow cytometry. Although the addition of T[alpha]1 did not seem to significantly modify the T-lymphocyte subpopulations, as comparable behaviors were observed in the CD4 and CD8 longitudinal evaluation, T[alpha]1 produced an earlier increase of natural killer cells. An accurate selection of HCV patients who can benefit from immunomodulation is needed. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]