Dysregulation of IFN system can lead to poor response to pegylated interferon and ribavirin therapy in chronic hepatitis C.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Despite being expensive, the standard combination of pegylated interferon (Peg-IFN)-α and ribavirin used to treat chronic hepatitis C (CH) results in a moderate clearance rate and a plethora of side effects. This makes it necessary to predict patient outcome so as to improve the accuracy of treatment. Although the antiviral mechanism of genetically altered IL28B is unknown, IL28B polymorphism is considered a good predictor of IFN combination treatment outcome.

Methodology

Using microarray, we quantified the expression profile of 237 IFN related genes in 87 CH liver biopsy specimens to clarify the relationship between IFN pathway and viral elimination, and to predict patients' clinical outcome. In 72 out of 87 patients we also analyzed IL28B polymorphism (rs8099917

SUBMITTER: Onomoto K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3094385 | biostudies-literature | 2011

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature