Quantitative analysis of interferon alpha/beta receptor mRNA in the liver of patients with chronic hepatitis C: correlation with serum hepatitis C virus-RNA levels and response to treatment with interferon.
We analysed the expression of interferon (IFN) alpha/beta receptor mRNA in the liver of patients with chronic hepatitis C and examined the relationship between the expression of this receptor gene and the level of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-RNA as well as the response to 16 weeks of 6 x 10(6) units IFN. The mean level of IFN alpha/beta receptor mRNA in patients with chronic HCV infection (expressed as delta cycle; 10.8 +/- 1.9 (mean +/- SD); n = 39) was significantly higher than that of control subjects (9.4 +/- 0.5; n = 6; P < 0.01). There was a significant negative correlation between the level of IFN alpha/beta receptor mRNA and serum HCV-RNA in 39 patients with chronic hepatitis C (R = -0.546; P < 0.01). The mean level of IFN alpha/beta receptor mRNA in six patients who showed a complete response to IFN therapy (12.3 +/- 1.6) was higher than that of 15 patients who failed to respond to therapy (10.1 +/- 1.5; P < 0.01). Our results are consistent with the suggestion that the anti-viral activity of IFN depends on the level of the IFN alpha/beta receptor on hepatocytes in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
Yatsuhashi
H
H
Institute for Clinical Research, Nagasaki Chuo National Hospital, Japan.
Yamasaki
K
K
Aritomi
T
T
Maria
P
P
Carmen
D
D
Inoue
O
O
Koga
M
M
Yano
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D017471:Receptors, Interferon / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA
D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012367:RNA, Viral; D017471:Receptors, Interferon; D000410:Alanine Transaminase