Table 2.
Cytokine expression by in vitro activated T cell in patients before and after treatment
| Percentage of positive cells | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Treatment | Cytokine | Baseline | 4 months |
| Ribavirin + IFN-α | IFN-γ | 38 ± 16 | 22 ± 8 (P < 0·01) |
| IL-2 | 50 ± 17 | 45 ± 13 | |
| IL-4 | 3 ± 2 | 4 ± 3 | |
| IL-10 | 2 ± 1 | 2 ± 1 | |
| IFN-α | IFN-γ | 35 ± 13 | 40 ± 10 |
| IL-2 | 49 ± 9 | 46 ± 8 | |
| IL-4 | 3 ± 2 | 3 ± 3 | |
| IL-10 | 2 ± 1 | 2 ± 2 | |
| None | IFN-γ | 24 ± 11 | n.a. |
| IL-2 | 31 ± 20 | n.a. | |
| IL-4 | 4 ± 3 | n.a. | |
| IL-10 | 2 ± 0·5 | n.a. | |
Note. Mitogen-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stained with Cy-chromeTM-conjugated anti-CD3, for the determination of their surphace phenotype. Intracellular cytokines were detected by staining with FITC-conjugated anti-IFN-γ and anti- IL-2 and PE-conjugated anti- IL-4 and anti IL-10 monoclonal antibodies. CD3 + gated lymphocytes were analysed by FACS as bivariate dot plots. The threshold of positivity for cytokine production was determined by setting the quadrants of the dot plots according to the negative controls (less than 1% of the isotype control cells appeared positive). The percentage of positive cells was calculated by straight channel integration. A subgroup of nine patients was analysed twice, both before and after treatment, intraseries variation coefficient was < 15%. If not indicated, P Î 0·05. n.a. = not applicable. Data are means ± SD