Impact of Rituximab on Hepatitis C Virus Infectivity
Author Information
Author(s): Stamataki Zania, Tilakaratne Samantha, Adams David H., McKeating Jane A.
Primary Institution: University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
Hypothesis
Does rituximab treatment increase the level of infectious hepatitis C virus released from B cells?
Conclusion
Rituximab treatment leads to an increase in the release of infectious hepatitis C virus from B cells, which may explain the transient increase in viral load observed in patients.
Supporting Evidence
- B cells lysed by rituximab can release significantly more infectious hepatitis C virus.
- The study used a model where the virus does not replicate in B cells.
- Rituximab treatment is associated with a transient increase in liver enzymes and HCV RNA.
Takeaway
When doctors use a medicine called rituximab to treat patients with hepatitis C, it can cause more of the virus to be released from certain immune cells called B cells.
Methodology
An in vitro ADCC model was established to study the effects of rituximab on B cell-associated hepatitis C virus infectivity using peripheral blood mononuclear cells and a Burkitt's lymphoma B cell line.
Limitations
The study does not account for potential virus replication in B cells in vivo or the role of B cells in controlling infection through immune protection.
Participant Demographics
Healthy volunteers provided peripheral blood mononuclear cells for the study.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.0442
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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