Differential expression of interferon blocking activities in sera from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

. Karmaniolas K.; . . Papavasiliou E.; Ioannidis P.; Dalamaga M.; Liatis S.; Mandalaki E.; Papalampros Th.; Migdalis I.

Authors . Karmaniolas K., . . Papavasiliou E., Ioannidis P., Dalamaga M., Liatis S., Mandalaki E., Papalampros Th., Migdalis I..

Abstract

SUMMARY
Natural inhibitors to various cytokines including interferon
(IFN), have been documented in vitro as well as in vivo.
The aim of this study was to investigate the existence of
IFN inhibitors in the serum of patients with hepatocellular
carcinoma and to postulate their possible clinical significance.
Sera from 16 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma,
collected before any treatment, were tested while sera
from 24 healthy blood donors were used as controls. All
serum samples were tested for IFN- blocking and endogenous
IFN-like activity. These activities were measured by
a bioassay based on the IFN displaying antiviral state in
three different cell lines highly sensitive to IFN: A549 , Intestine-
407 and Chang liver cells. IFN-blocking activity was
detected in the cell lines mentioned above in 93.7%, 12.5%
and 37.5% of patients sera respectively. No IFN-blocking
activity was detected in the controls. The results support a
cytokine and cytokine inhibitor network mediating pathophysiol
ï§©cal events in the cellular level as well as in the
whole organism. The limited responsiveness of hepatocellular
carcinoma to rIFNá ay potentially be due to the presence
of such inhibitors.
Key Words: Interferon, Interferon inhibitors, Hepatocellular
carcinoma, Cell sensitivity