Treatment for chronic hepatitis C with metallothionein induction by IFN

1. 我们研究了IL-6、地塞米松（Dex）和锌对大鼠金属硫蛋白（MT）合成的交互作用。肝脏中MT的合成可由11-6或Dex诱导，也可由LL-6和Dex联合诱导。[L-6]、[Dex]与Zn联用对肝脏MT的增加作用大于（L-6 +Zn）与（Dex +Zn）联用对肝脏MT的增加作用之和，具有协同作用。这些数据表明，IL-6和Dex联合作用对MT诱导的最大增加依赖于足够的肝脏Zn含量。我们研究了IFN对16例慢性丙型肝炎患者肝组织MT诱导和HCV清除的影响，其中11例患者经IFN治疗后肝脏组织学由活动性转为非活动性。非活动性肝炎患者肝脏MT浓度高于活动性肝炎患者。16例患者中有7例通过IFN治疗从肝组织中根除HCV，与HCV阳性患者相比，肝MT染色明显。此外，与单独使用IFN治疗的丙型肝炎患者相比，IFN和锌治疗的丙型肝炎患者肝脏中MT-mRNA的诱导量增加。一项关于IFN和锌联合治疗lb基因型丙型肝炎患者效果的初步研究。15名患者接受IFN和160 mg polaprezinc治疗24周。61例患者单独接受IEN治疗，作为对照组。6个月随访结束时，IEN +锌治疗组血清ALT正常化水平（联合组67%，对照组42%）和HCVRNA根除水平（联合组53%，对照组16%）均高于单纯IFN治疗组。这些结果表明，MT诱导是平息肝脏炎症的必要条件，IFN与锌联合治疗丙型肝炎可能会改善其治疗效果。

1. We investigated the reciprocal effects of IL-6, dexamethasone (Dex) and Zn on metallothionein (MT) synthesis in rats. MT synthesis in the liver was induced by 11-6 or Dex, and in an additive manner by a combination of LL-6 and Dex. The increase in liver MT induced by the combination of [L-6 and Dex with Zn was greater than the sum of the increases induced by (1L-6 +Zn) and by (Dex + Zn), suggesting a synergistic increase. The data indicate that the maximal increase in the induction of MT by a combination of IL-6 and Dex depends on an adequate liver Zn content.2.We studied the effect of IFN on MT induction and HCV clearance in human liver tissue obtained from 16 patients with chronic hepatitis C.Liver histology of 11 patients was improved by IFN therapy from active type to inactive type. Hepatic MT concentration was increased in patients with inactive hepatitis more than in those with active hepatitis. Seven out of 16 patients eradicated HCV from liver tissue by IFN therapy, in whom hepatic MT stains were marked compared to those of HCV positive ones. In addition, MT-mRNA induction in liver was increased in hepatitis C patients treated with IFN and zinc compared with those treated with IFN alone.3. A pilot study was tried on the effect of combined therapy with IFN and zinc for hepatitis C patients with genotype lb. Fifteen patients were treated by IFN and 160 mg of polaprezinc for 24 weeks. Sixty one patients treated with IEN alone as same schedule served control. At the end of 6 months follow up period, normalization of serum ALT levels(combined group 67%, control 42%) and eradication of HCVRNA(combined group 53%, control 16%) were higher in the patients treated with IEN and zinc than in those treated with IFN alone.These results suggest MT induction is needed to calm of hepatic inflammation, and therapeutic effect of IFN for hepatitis C may improved in combination with zinc.