Interferon alpha receptor 2 expression by peripheral blood monocytes in patients with a high viral load of hepatitis C virus genotype 1 showing substitution of amino Acid 70 in the core region.
OBJECTIVE
When patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) are treated with interferon (IFN)-based therapy, achieving serum HCV-RNA negativity by week 12 (early viral response, EVR) is an important predictor of a sustained virologic response. The aim of this study was to clarify whether changes in IFN-alpha receptor 2 (IFNAR-2) expression by peripheral blood monocytes (Mo) and the EVR rate differed between patients with genotype 1b and a high viral load showing substitution of amino acid 70 in the core region of HCV (mutant, n = 20) and patients without this substitution (wild, n = 23).


METHODS
Forty-three CHC patients were studied, and received pegylated IFN plus ribavirin. IFNAR-2 expression by Mo was determined using flow cytometry to measure the mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) before and up to 28 days after starting therapy.


RESULTS
The EVR rate of the mutant group was significantly lower than that of the wild group (35 vs.70%). The MFI of Mo was significantly higher in the wild group than in the mutant group before and also 3, 7, and 28 days after starting therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Mutation of HCV was related to lower IFNAR-2 expression by Mo before and after starting therapy.
Ishii
Koji
K
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Toho University School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. iskoji377 @ med.toho-u.ac.jp
Shinohara
Mie
M
Sawa
Misato
M
Kogame
Michio
M
Higami
Katsuya
K
Sano
Masanari
M
Morita
Toshisuke
T
Sumino
Yasukiyo
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019943:Amino Acid Substitution / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000821:virology*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D053633:Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D019562:Viral Load
C508033:IFNAR2 protein, human; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014758:Viral Core Proteins; C069130:nucleocapsid protein, Hepatitis C virus; D053633:Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b