IL28B and the Control of Hepatitis C Virus Infecti... [Gastroenterology. 2010] - PubMed result

Gastroenterology. 2010 Oct 12. [Epub ahead of print]
IL28B and the Control of Hepatitis C Virus Infection.

Balagopal A, Thomas DL, Thio CL.

Division of Infectious Diseases, Viral Hepatitis Center, Department of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland.

Abstract

Treatment-induced 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)-λ 3, in the immune response to HCV. Although it is not clear how the IL28B haplotype affects HCV clearance, IFNλ3 upregulates interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs), similar to interferon-α and β, but via a different receptor. There is also evidence that IFNλ3 affects the adaptive immune response. The IL28B genotype can be considered, along with other factors, in predicting patient responses to therapy with pegylated interferon-α and ribavirin. We review the genetic studies that uncovered the association between IL28B and HCV clearance, the biology of IFNλ3, the clinical implications of the genetic association, and areas of future research. All studies published in Gastroenterology are embargoed until 3PM ET of the day they are published as corrected proofs on-line. Studies cannot be publicized as accepted manuscripts or uncorrected proofs.
Copyright © 2010 AGA Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

PMID: 20950615 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
IL28B and the Control of Hepatitis C Virus Infecti... [Gastroenterology. 2010] - PubMed result