Genome-Wide Analysis of the Transcriptional IFN-α Response in Patients Treated for Hepatitis C

Aims and background: The mechanism of action of interferon-alpha (IFN-α) which is used therapeutically to suppress replication of the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) in chronically infected patients is still unclear. Methods: To identify target genes that mediate the anti-HCV effect of IFN-α in vivo 21 HCV patients were treated with a standard therapy (PEG-IFNα–2b + ribavirin). 12h before and 12h after the first injection of IFN peripheral blood cells were assayed for the expression of IFN-inducible genes (ISGs) using DNA microarrays and quantitative real-time RT-PCR. HCV-RNA levels were determined 12h before and 36h af…