IL28B and the control of hepatitis C virus infection.
Treatment-induced control and spontaneous clearance of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are affected by various host factors. Polymorphisms in the region of the gene IL28B are associated with HCV clearance, implicating the gene product, interferon (IFN)-λ3, in the immune response to HCV. Although it is not clear how the IL28B haplotype affects HCV clearance, IFN-λ3 up-regulates interferon-stimulated genes, similar to IFN-α and IFN-β but via a different receptor. There is also evidence that IFN-λ3 affects the adaptive immune response. The IL28B genotype can be considered, along with other factors, in predicting patient responses to therapy with pegylated IFN-α and ribavirin. We review the genetic studies that uncovered the association between IL28B and HCV clearance, the biology of IFN-λ3, the clinical implications of the genetic association, and areas of future research.
Balagopal
Ashwin
A
Division of Infectious Diseases, Center for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. abalago1@jhmi.edu
Thomas
David L
DL
Thio
Chloe L
CL
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons; D007378:Interleukins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D011506:Proteins; D000095022:Interferon Lambda
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007372:Interferons; D007378:Interleukins; D011506:Proteins; C526704:EIF1AD protein, human; C000624353:interferon-lambda, human; D000095022:Interferon Lambda