We investigated whether the combination of fluvastatin with PEG-IFN/ribavirin could actually improve sustained viral response (SVR) in patients with HCV genotype 1b and high viral load.
However, little information is available about the effect of alcohol on interferon-lambda (IFN-λ, type III IFN), a novel candidate for development of therapy for HCV infection.
Direct comparison of IP-10 and IL-28B polymorphism between chimpanzees and patients in relation to HCV infection, illustrates that the IFN-pathways are important during HCV infection in both species.
Soluble LDLR can inhibit HCV infectivity; greater plasma low-density lipoprotein levels are associated with treatment success; LDLR genotypes have a synergistic impact on the likelihood of achieving SVR with Peg-IFN plus RBV, as well as on viral kinetics after starting treatment.
Recent phase 3 studies have provided proof-of-concept that all-oral, IFN-free DAA regimens can yield high rates of sustained virological response across most HCV genotypes.
This study identified genetic variation near the IL28B gene and aa substitution of the core region as predictors of sustained virological response to a triple therapy of telaprevir/PEG-IFN/ribavirin in Japanese patients infected with HCV genotype 1b.
The analysis of the matched patient subgroup demonstrates that the HCV-5 "intrinsic sensitivity" to PEG-IFN + RBV therapy is identical to HCV-1, with a sustained virological response of 55% in both groups.
Thus, SVR in chronic HCV infection is associated with a strong IFNα-induced cytokine response, which might allow for the early prediction of treatment efficacy in HCV infection.
Furthermore, HCV F protein and Core not only inhibited specific unmethylated CpG oligonucleotide sequences of type A (CpG‑A)-induced IFN-α production by PBMCs and PDCs, but also upregulated the production of interleukin (IL)-10 by PBMCs in patients with chronic HCV and healthy controls.
The study aim was to establish possible relationships between IL-28B rs12979860 genotypes and expression of IFN-alpha receptor-1 (IFNAR-1) in naïve HCV patients, and to explore the possible role of IFN-lambda.
After adjustment, HCV+ kidneys were 3.7 times more likely to be discarded than HCV- kidneys in the DAA era (adjusted relative rate, 3.363.674.02; P < 0.001); an increase from the IFN era (adjusted relative rate, 2.783.023.27; P < 0.001).
Thus, the causative role, played by HCV in SMZL development, is once again reinforced, whereby the antiviral, rather than the anti-proliferative activity of IFN is indirectly proven.
The addition of hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3/4A protease inhibitors to pegylated-interferon alpha (PEG-IFNα) and ribavirin (triple therapy) has greatly improved treatment outcome.
Consistent with these in vitro data, high hepatic ISG15 levels correlated with the unfavourable HCV genotype 1, a high hepatic HCV load and a low antiviral response to IFN during the initial phase of treatment.
A total of 103 liver biopsy-proven chronic HCV patients with genotype 3, having alanine aminotransferase levels >1.2 x ULN and positive HCV-RNA were randomized into two groups: group I (n = 76; age, 43.1 +/- 11.4 years; male/female, 67/9) received peg-IFN 1.0 mug/kg/week + ribavirin 10.6 mg/kg/day, while group II (n = 27; age, 37.3 +/- 11.6 years; male/female, 21/6) received peg-IFN 1.5 microg/kg/week + ribavirin 10.6 mg/kg/day.
To determine whether sequence variations of the HCV NS5B region correlate with response to IFN therapy, pretreatment serum samples from 40 patients with chronic HCV infection who were subsequently treated with IFN (> or = 3 MU thrice weekly for 24 weeks) and had well-characterized biochemical responses were studied.
Patients who showed HCV RNA at week 12 but were negative at week 24 were randomly assigned to receive PEG-IFNα-2a/RBV (group E) or PEG-IFNα-2a/RBV/fluvastatin (group F).
In order to determine the prevalence of HCV defective variants and to study their association with clinical characteristics, a screening campaign was performed on pre-therapy serum samples from a well-characterized cohort of previously untreated genotype 1 HCV-infected patients who received treatment with PEG-IFNα and RBV.
It is concluded that expression of IFN receptor genes in the liver is a useful index for predicting the short- and long-term efficacy of IFN therapy in patients with chronic HCV infection.