title: Intrahepatic mRNA levels of type I interferon receptor and interferon-stimulated genes in genotype 1b chronic hepatitis C. Association between IFNAR1 mRNA level and sustained response to interferon therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the association between pretreatment intrahepatic mRNA levels of interferon receptor and interferon-stimulated genes and response to interferon therapy for genotype 1b chronic hepatitis C.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-four patients with genotype 1b chronic hepatitis C who underwent liver biopsy and then received interferon therapy participated in this study. Pretreatment intrahepatic mRNA levels of interferon receptor genes (IFNAR1, IFNAR2b, and IFNAR2c) and interferon-stimulated genes (OAS1 and PKR) were quantified by competitive polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the genes examined, only IFNAR1 mRNA level was significantly higher in patients with sustained virological and biochemical response to interferon therapy versus those with nonsustained response (p < 0.01). Moreover, mRNA expression ratios of IFNAR1 to IFNAR2 were also significantly higher in patients with sustained virological and biochemical response to IFN therapy (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively). On the other hand, mRNA levels of IFNAR2b, IFNAR2c, and PKR were significantly higher in patients with histologically active or advanced liver rather than patients with mild or less advanced liver.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High intrahepatic mRNA levels of IFNAR1 and mRNA ratio of IFNAR1 to IFNAR2 before treatment may be associated with a favorable response to interferon therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Taniguchi
authors.forename: Yoshiaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Iwasaki
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shimomura
authors.forename: Akio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moriya
authors.forename: Piao Cheng
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Fumi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Umeoka
authors.forename: Shin-ichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fujioka
authors.forename: Norio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Koide
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shiratori
mesh_terms: D015088:2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D053633:Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019892:eIF-2 Kinase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; C507964:IFNAR1 protein, human; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012367:RNA, Viral; D053633:Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta; D016899:Interferon-beta; D019892:eIF-2 Kinase; C475085:OAS1 protein, human; D015088:2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase