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.
Division of Infectious Diseases, Center for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. abalago1@jhmi.edu
Ashwin
A
Balagopal
David L
DL
Thomas
Chloe L
CL
Thio
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