Washington, Jan 1 (IANS) In most patients who undergo a liver transplant because of liver failure or liver cancer, the new liver becomes infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) almost immediately. But now researchers have developed an approach that transiently keeps HCV levels down in most HCV-infected patients receiving a new liver.
Hideki Ohdan, Kazuaki Chayama and colleagues at Hiroshima University in Japan, took immune cells known as lymphocytes from the donor livers before they were transplanted into the HCV-infected patients, activated them in0-vitro, and then injected them into the patients three days after they had received their liver transplants.

Importantly, these infused cells were able to keep HCV at bay even though the patients were taking immuno-suppressive drugs to prevent their immune systems from rejecting the new livers.

Despite showing clear clinical effects, the authors are planning further studies in which they will modify the protocol in an attempt to find a way to keep HCV levels down for longer and in all patients, says a Hiroshima release.

These findings were published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.