Actimmune: Gamma Interferon Monotherapy Fails to Reverse Fibrosis

[MKAndrew]

Does this mean there is no connection between gamma interferon and reversing cirrhosis?  It's hard to tell from this study, because monotherapy ANYTHING rarely works for us.

SVRs have elevated gamma levels.  Interferon alfa is a cytokine.  A cytokine is a messenger.  The cytokine sequence goes like this:

alfa IFN--->Interleukin 12--->gamma IFN.  So far, we've tried monotherapy megadosing with each one of these cytokines.  IL-12 killed a couple of alcoholics with advanced cirrhosis.  Actually, they were hoping that shooting IL-12 would increase gamma production.

Okay, here's the other deal.  I know a person with lupus who is having trouble with connective tissue fibrosis.  lupus people often experience interferon overload.  More alfa means more IL-12 which means more gamma.  So here, you've got fibrosis developing in a gamma environment.

Then, there's the other deal.  I take a drug called Avandia for diabetes.  The drug is purported to reverse liver injury as an offshoot messaging sequence that goes along with controlling insulin resistance.  Here's the kicker - Avandia is believed to reverse liver injury, and the drug inhibits IL-12 and gamma.  

So in the first case, you've got fibrosis in the presence of gamma.  In the other case, you've got reversal in the absence of gamma.

Does this mean that gamma interferon has nothing to do with repairing liver injury?  Not necessarily.  We don't yet fully understand the pathway.  There may be a piece missing.

[reposyco]

it is slow moving,even with advance stage the treatment is good to give your liver a chance to rest and recover some so i think i would do the tx and it is possible to clear even at this stage so dont give up hang in there.....GOD  BLESS

[dee40]

to anyone that can give me some insite. I have an appt. tomorrow at the dr. i havent started treatment yet but that whats this is about. i have hep c. and cirrohosis. they did tell me that it is a slow disease that i dont have my foot in    the grave like i think. i hope that they dont tell me that i only have a short time to live. im scared of the appt; and the treatment, im not sure i want to do tx, or if i can wait till something else comes out. i have been feeling tired lately, and i think it is because im so worried, i kinda feel depressed, and im not even on tx yet. can anyone ease my mind some?dee

[new-sojourn]

I was reading Doc C's 2004 update, and he mentions that the current combo tx seems to be reversing fibroses in decomp's like me.  I feel as if they have so little knowledge about hep c and the longer term benefits and we are the labrats.

I personally beleive that once the hep c virus is gone, thru careful living, the liver will regenerate.  Not completely, b/enough to provide a high QOL!