Expression of interferon-alpha receptor mRNA in the liver in chronic liver diseases associated with hepatitis C virus: relation to effectiveness of interferon therapy.
To investigate whether interferon-alpha receptor (IFN-alpha Rc) expression was related to the effectiveness of interferon therapy in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-associated chronic liver disease (CLD). IFN-alpha Rc mRNA was investigated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in liver biopsies and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 40 patients with HCV-associated CLD who subsequently received IFN-alpha therapy. IFN-alpha Rc mRNA in the liver was detected in 18 of 20 (90%) responders to IFN and in 5 of 20 (25%) non-responders (P < 0.01). In PBMCs, IFN-alpha Rc mRNA was detected in all patients regardless of response to IFN. Increased histological hepatitis activity and liver fibrosis were significantly related to the absence of IFN-alpha Rc mRNA. The HCV-RNA genotype showed no significant relationship to IFN-alpha Rc mRNA expression. Our results suggest that IFN-alpha Rc mRNA expression in the liver, but not in PBMCs, is closely associated with the effectiveness of IFN-alpha therapy in HCV-associated CLD.
Fukuda
R
R
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Shimane Medical University, Japan.
Ishimura
N
N
Ishihara
S
S
Tokuda
A
A
Satoh
S
S
Sakai
S
S
Akagi
S
S
Watanabe
M
M
Fukumoto
S
S
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001706:Biopsy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015870:Gene Expression; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes / Q000737:chemistry; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D053633:Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta; D017471:Receptors, Interferon / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012367:RNA, Viral; D017471:Receptors, Interferon; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D053633:Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta