title: Interferon-lambda in the immune response to hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus.
abstract: Approximately 500 million people worldwide are chronically infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV), and are therefore at an increased risk for developing fatal liver diseases such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The intracellular antiviral responses induced by interferon (IFN)-alpha/-beta and/or IFN-gamma play critical roles in the pathogenesis of HBV and HCV infection, and the function of IFN-lambda in the host immune response to these viruses is beginning to be revealed. A better understanding of how IFN-lambda influences HBV or HCV persistence is not only important for understanding the mechanisms of chronic virus infection, but also may lead to new approaches for improved antiviral therapies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8023, USA.
authors.forename: Nicole E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Pagliaccetti
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Robek
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D051379:Mice; D015995:Prevalence; D007378:Interleukins; D000095022:Interferon Lambda
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016207:Cytokines; C511668:interferon-lambda protein, mouse; D007378:Interleukins; D000095022:Interferon Lambda