OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between the efficacy of interferon-alpha and the variation of perforin protein expression in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells in 35 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

METHODSThe perforin protein in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells was detected by immunocytochemistry technique.

RESULTSThe level of the perforin protein expression in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells was significantly higher in the post-treatment group with interferon-alpha than in the pre-treatment group. At the end of the treatment with interferon-alpha, there were 12 cases of complete responders, 14 cases of partial responders, and 9 cases of non-responders. After interferon-alpha treatment, the mean level of the perforin protein expression in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells was 12.1%, 6.9% and 3.9% respectively, and there existed significant differences among the three groups. Moreover, before treatment, the level of the perforin protein expression in the complete responder group was significantly higher compared to the partial responder group or the non-responder group.

CONCLUSIONTreatment with interferon-alpha can increase the perforin protein expression in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with CHB. The variation of perforin protein expression in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells may be closely related to the efficacy of interferon-alpha treatment against hepatitis B virus.