9-cis retinoic acid enhances the antiviral effect of interferon on hepatitis C virus replication through increased expression of type I interferon receptor.

The concentration of type I interferon receptor (IFN-Rc) in the liver is a crucial factor in determining the efficacy of interferon (IFN) therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Retinoic acids (RAs) can enhance the expression of type I IFN-Rc expression. The aim of this study was to investigate whether RAs increase the anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) effect of IFN through an increase in IFN-Rc.

Reg protein is overexpressed in gastric cancer cells, where it activates a signal transduction pathway that converges on ERK1/2 to stimulate growth.

Reg is a growth factor with mitogenic effects on pancreatic beta cells and gastric stem cells. To date, there has been no information available on Reg-mediated intracellular signal transduction pathways. The role of Reg in the gastric carcinogenesis is also unknown.