A genetic variant in the interleukin 28B gene as a major predictor for sustained virologic response in chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

Background And Aims: The IL28B single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs12979860 is a major predictor of treatment outcomes in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, but its distribution widely varies among populations and ethnicities. We undertook this study to investigate the distribution of IL28B SNP rs12979860 in Mexican patients with HCV infection and to assess its usefulness in predicting response to pegylated interferon-alpha and ribavirin (PegIFN-α/RVB) therapy.

Methods: Three hundred and fifty patients with chronic HCV infection were studied.

IFN-stimulated gene expression is a useful potential molecular marker of response to antiviral treatment with Peg-IFNα 2b and ribavirin in patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 1.

Background And Aims: We undertook this study to determine the baseline gene expression of IFI27, IFIT1, IFI6, ISG15, IRF-1, IRF-3, OAS-2 and CXCL10 and its usefulness as molecular markers of response to antiviral treatment with peg-IFNα 2b/RBV in patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 1 (HCV-1).

Methods: Gene expression was analyzed by RT-PCR in baseline liver biopsies from 42 HCV-1 patients who were treated with Peg-IFNα 2b/RBV for 48 weeks. In addition, we investigated gene expression of these genes in a second liver biopsy obtained 24 weeks post-treatment in sustained viral response (SVR) and relapser patients.