[Interferon therapy of chronic hepatitis].
The current state of interferon (IFN) therapy for chronic hepatitis B and C in Japan is reviewed. The administration of IFN results in induction of 2'-5' oligoadenylate synthetase (2-5AS). 2-5AS produces 2-5A capable of activating a latent RNAase that degrades viral RNA. In patient with chronic hepatitis B, prominent reduction of HBV DNA, HBe antigen and HBs antigens is observed, when IFN is administered. However, the replication of HBV starts again after stopping of IFN administration, because the effects of IFN do not affect HBV DNA which is the origin of replication. On the other hand, HCV is a RNA virus IFN not only suppresses the production of HCV proteins and its pregenome, but also eradicate HCV RNA that is the origin of replication. In around 40% of the patients with chronic hepatitis C, sustained normalization of ALT and negativity of HCV RNA was obtained after IFN therapy under the most satisfactory regimen.
D002908:Chronic Disease; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D007372:Interferons