Interferon-alpha treatment differenzially modifies the expression of depression-related interferon-inducible genes in vivo and in vitro

Aims: Consensus-interferon-alpha (cIFN), used in the current therapy for hepatitis C, is associated with an elevated risk of depression. Our previous gene expression analysis of peripheral blood of de novo depressed-HCV patients and brain of suicidal individuals showed 16 genes strongly upregulated, which may be related to development of neuropsychiatric disorders. Aim: The aim of this study is to elucidate the effect of cIFN on the depression-related interferon-inducible genes (DRIIs) expression in hippocampus, a brain area which is closely related to depression development, by the use of in vitro and in vivo m…