The changes of serum soluble HLA-class I and CD8 concentrations during interferon treatment of chronic hepatitis C patients

Serum soluble HLA-class I and CD8 molecules were sequentially (pre, during, and post-therapy) measured by sandwich ELISA, in 20 interferon (IFN)-treated chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients, who were judged as responders (n = 8) or non-responders (n = 12) with respect to the response to the therapy. Pretreatment levels of sHLA-I and sCD8 did not differ between responders and non-responders. Both values increased just after the start of therapy and peaked at 2–4 weeks. The IFN was discontinued at 24 weeks, when sHLA-I decreased to baseline levels in responders, whereas they remained at levels significantly higher than baseline levels even at 48 weeks in non-responders (P < 0.01). sCD8 decreased significantly under than baseline levels at 48 weeks in responders (P < 0.05), in contrast in non-responders, sCD8 did not decrease beyond baseline levels. In summary, serum levels of sHLA-I and sCD8 were elevated by the IFN treatment, and serial follow-up of these immunological parameters could provide additive information regarding the response to IFN therapy.