title: Impact of host and virus genome variability on HCV replication and response to interferon.
abstract: Since the discovery of hepatitis C virus (HCV), treatment has proven difficult and the regimen of pegylated interferon-α and ribavirin is only effective for half of patients. Evidence suggests that host and viral genome variations play a role in either viral clearance or persistence. Powerful genomic technologies have made it possible to study genome-wide associations with treatment response, which yielded critical genetic polymorphisms that predict treatment response. This has important implications for treatment of HCV infection and opened the door to the possibility of genetic marker-guided treatment (personalized medicine). This review will focus on the recent advances in understanding host and viral genetic variations with regards to treatment and the importance for future therapeutic intervention.
authors.affiliation: Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA. Electronic address: cameron.schweitzer@NIH.gov.
authors.forename: Cameron J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Schweitzer
authors.forename: T Jake
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Liang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000187:drug effects; D016679:Genome, Viral / Q000187:drug effects*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha