title: Role of Interferons in Chronic Hepatitis C Infection.
abstract: It is known that the production of and/or response to interferon (IFN) are deregulated during chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. In particular, several studies have shown that patients with chronic HCV infection who have a high natural level of IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) do not achieve viral clearance and have a poor response to treatment with pegylated IFNα and ribavirin. The viral and/or host factors that are responsible for the higher endogenous ISGs expression in some HCV infected patients compared to others remain to be determined. However, type III IFNs, and in particular the new discovered IFN lambda (L) 4 Gene, appear to play a dominant role in driving ISGs response and in contributing to the establishment of HCV persistence. This review focuses on recent studies on how the ISGs response and the IFNλ genetic factors (interleukin-28B and IFNL4) affect the clinical outcome of HCV infection highlighting their impact in the current antiviral therapies with direct acting antiviral agents.
authors: Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratory of Virology, Sapienza University of Rome, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia, Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Italy.
authors: Carolina
authors: C
authors: Scagnolari
authors: Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratory of Virology, Sapienza University of Rome, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia, Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Italy.
authors: Katia
authors: K
authors: Monteleone
authors: Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratory of Virology, Sapienza University of Rome, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia, Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Italy.
authors: Giulia
authors: G
authors: Cacciotti
authors: Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratory of Virology, Sapienza University of Rome, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia - Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Viale di Porta Tiburtina 28 - 00185 Rome, Italy.
authors: Guido
authors: G
authors: Antonelli
mesh_terms: D053263:Gene Regulatory Networks / Q000187:drug effects; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007372:Interferons / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007378:Interleukins / Q000235:genetics*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015854:Up-Regulation; D000095022:Interferon Lambda
chemical_list: D007372:Interferons; D007378:Interleukins; C000624353:interferon-lambda, human; D000095022:Interferon Lambda; C579163:IFNL4 protein, human
keywords: DAAs; HCV; IFN; IFNL4; IL-28B; ISGs; innate immunity