title: The treatment response of chronically hepatitis C virus-infected patients depends on interferon concentration but not on interferon gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
abstract: The current treatment of chronic hepatitis C is based on pegylated alpha interferon (PEG-IFN-α) and ribavirin. The aim of this study was to identify biological and clinical variables related to IFN therapy that could predict patient outcome. The study enrolled 47 patients treated with PEG-IFN and ribavirin combined therapy. The interferon concentration was measured in serum by a bioassay. The expression of 93 interferon-regulated genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was quantified by real-time quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) before and after 1 month of treatment. The interferon concentration in the serum was significantly lower in nonresponders than in sustained virological responders. Moreover, a significant correlation was identified between interferon concentration and interferon exposition as well as body weight. The analysis of interferon-inducible genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells among the genes tested did not permit the prediction of treatment outcome. In conclusion, the better option seems to be to treat patients with weight-adjusted PEG-IFN doses, particularly for patients with high weight who are treated with PEG-IFN-α2a. Although the peripheral blood mononuclear cell samples are the easiest to obtain, the measurement of interferon-inducible genes seems not be the best strategy to predict treatment outcome.
authors: Unité de Virologie Clinique et Fondamentale, EA 4294, Université Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France. catherine.francois@u-picardie.fr
authors: Catherine
authors: C
authors: François
authors: Cédric
authors: C
authors: Coulouarn
authors: Véronique
authors: V
authors: Descamps
authors: Sandrine
authors: S
authors: Castelain
authors: Etienne
authors: E
authors: Brochot
authors: Agnès
authors: A
authors: Baron
authors: Isabelle
authors: I
authors: Duchaussoy
authors: Dominique
authors: D
authors: Capron
authors: Eric
authors: E
authors: Nguyen-Khac
authors: Gilles
authors: G
authors: Duverlie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001835:Body Weight; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a