Koji Ishii, Mie Shinohara, Kaori Kanayama, Michio Kogame, Misato Shiratori and Yasukiyo Sumino
Background/Aims: Genetic variation in the interleukin 28B (IL-28B) region has been associated with sustained virological response (SVR) rates in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) who were treated with pegylatedinterferon (PEG-IFN) and ribavirin (RBV). The aim of this study is to clarify whether changes in type 1 IFN receptor 2 (IFNAR-2) expressions by peripheral blood monocytes (Mo) are related to genetic variation near the IL-28B gene.
Patients and Methods: One hundred and forty-eight CHC patients with genotype 1b and high viral load receiving PEG-IFN and RBV were studied. IFNAR-2 expression by peripheral blood Mo was measured as the mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) before and up to 28 days after starting therapy. Eighty-three of 148 patients consented to genetic investigation (IL-28B genetic variants in rs8099917).
Results: There were no significant differences in MFI of peripheral blood Mo between SVR and non-SVR patients during the study period in patients with genotype TT in rs8099917; however, MFI of peripheral blood Mo at days 7 and 14 of treatment was significantly higher in SVR patients than in non-SVR patients with genotype TG in rs8099917.
Conclusions: IFNAR-2 may be related to efficacy of PEG-IFN and RBV in CHC patients possessing poorresponse IL-28B variants.
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Journal of Blood & Lymph received 443 citations as per Google Scholar report
