Int J Med Sci 2009; 6(4):177-183. doi:10.7150/ijms.6.177 This issue Cite

Research Paper

IMMUNE RESPONSES IN AUTOIMMUNE HEPATITIS: EFFECT OF PREDNISONE AND AZATHIOPRINE TREATMENT: CASE REPORT

Martin H. Bluth1, Stephan Kohlhoff2,4, Kevin B. Norowitz2, Jonathan I Silverberg3,4, Seto Chice3, M Nowakowski3,4, Helen G. Durkin3,4, Tamar A. Smith-Norowitz 2,4 ✉

1. Deptartment of Pathology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA;
2. Departments of Pediatrics, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York 11203, USA;
3. Departments of Pathology, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York 11203, USA;
4. Center for Allergy and Asthma Research, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York 11203, USA.

Citation:
Bluth MH, Kohlhoff S, Norowitz KB, Silverberg JI, Chice S, Nowakowski M, Durkin HG, Smith-Norowitz TA. IMMUNE RESPONSES IN AUTOIMMUNE HEPATITIS: EFFECT OF PREDNISONE AND AZATHIOPRINE TREATMENT: CASE REPORT. Int J Med Sci 2009; 6(4):177-183. doi:10.7150/ijms.6.177. https://www.medsci.org/v06p0177.htm
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Abstract

The role of the immune response in autoimmune hepatitis has not been studied before and after prednisone and azathioprine treatment. Distributions of blood lymphocytes (CD4+, CD8+, CD19+, CD23+, CD16/56+), levels of serum immunoglobulins (IgM, IgG, IgE, IgA) and cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-12, TNFα ) were studied in a child (f/14 y/o) with autoimmune hepatitis before and after prednisone (20 mg/d) and azathioprine (50 mg/d) treatment (nephelometry, UniCAP Total IgE Fluoroenzymeimmunoassay, flow cytometry, cytokine ELISA). Patient was studied for 0-2.5 yrs; treatment was initiated 12 weeks post diagnosis. Numbers of CD4+ T cells increased (50%), while CD19+ and CD23+ cells decreased (>50%) post treatment; other lymphocyte subsets were unaffected by treatment. Serum IgG and IgE levels decreased (>50%) after treatment; serum IgM and IgA were within normal range and were not affected by treatment High levels of IFN-γ (5-23 pg/ml) were initially detected in serum, which decreased after treatment (<0.1 pg/ml). Furthermore, low levels of IL-4 (0.2 pg/mL) were detected before treatment, which were not detected after treatment (<0.1 pg/ml). In contrast, before treatment, IL-12 and TNFα were not detected in serum; however after treatment the levels of IL-12 and TNFα dramatically increased. Prednisone and azathioprine treatment decreased total serum IgG, IgE, IFN-γ and IL-4 levels, and blood CD19+ and CD23+ cells; however serum IL-12, TNFα and blood CD4+ T cells increased with treatment. Understanding immunomodulation in autoimmune hepatitis will provide better insight and mechanisms of this disease and may tailor more effective therapeutic intervention.

Keywords: autoimmune hepatitis, Immunoglobulin E (IgE), azathioprine treatment


Citation styles

APA
Bluth, M.H., Kohlhoff, S., Norowitz, K.B., Silverberg, J.I., Chice, S., Nowakowski, M., Durkin, H.G., Smith-Norowitz, T.A. (2009). IMMUNE RESPONSES IN AUTOIMMUNE HEPATITIS: EFFECT OF PREDNISONE AND AZATHIOPRINE TREATMENT: CASE REPORT. International Journal of Medical Sciences, 6(4), 177-183. https://doi.org/10.7150/ijms.6.177.

ACS
Bluth, M.H.; Kohlhoff, S.; Norowitz, K.B.; Silverberg, J.I.; Chice, S.; Nowakowski, M.; Durkin, H.G.; Smith-Norowitz, T.A. IMMUNE RESPONSES IN AUTOIMMUNE HEPATITIS: EFFECT OF PREDNISONE AND AZATHIOPRINE TREATMENT: CASE REPORT. Int. J. Med. Sci. 2009, 6 (4), 177-183. DOI: 10.7150/ijms.6.177.

NLM
Bluth MH, Kohlhoff S, Norowitz KB, Silverberg JI, Chice S, Nowakowski M, Durkin HG, Smith-Norowitz TA. IMMUNE RESPONSES IN AUTOIMMUNE HEPATITIS: EFFECT OF PREDNISONE AND AZATHIOPRINE TREATMENT: CASE REPORT. Int J Med Sci 2009; 6(4):177-183. doi:10.7150/ijms.6.177. https://www.medsci.org/v06p0177.htm

CSE
Bluth MH, Kohlhoff S, Norowitz KB, Silverberg JI, Chice S, Nowakowski M, Durkin HG, Smith-Norowitz TA. 2009. IMMUNE RESPONSES IN AUTOIMMUNE HEPATITIS: EFFECT OF PREDNISONE AND AZATHIOPRINE TREATMENT: CASE REPORT. Int J Med Sci. 6(4):177-183.

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