Journal
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
Volume 80, Issue 2, Pages 247-253Publisher
WILEY-LISS
DOI: 10.1002/jmv.21060
Keywords
-
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
The degree of variability of the interferon sensitivity determining region (ISDR) in the hepatitis C virus (HCV) genome has been postulated to predict the response to interferon therapy, mainly in patients infected with subtype 1b, although this prediction has been the subject of a long controversy. This prediction has been tested by analyzing a cohort of 67 Spanish patients infected with HCV genotype 1, 23 of which were infected with subtype la and 44 with subtype 1b. A sample previous to therapy with a-interferon plus ribavirin was obtained and several clones (between 25 and 96) including the ISDR were sequenced from each patient. A significant correlation between mutations at the ISDR and response to treatment for subtype 1b patients, but not for those infected with subtype 1 a, has been detected. Although the results suggest that the same relationship holds true for subtype 1 a, lack of statistical power because of the small sample size of this subtype prevented firmer conclusions. However, identical ISDR sequences were found in responder and non-responder patients, suggesting that the stability of the ISDR sequence can occasionally help HCV to evade interferon therapy, although this is not a sufficient condition. More complex interactions, including the ISDR or not,are likely to exist and govern the HCV response to interferon treatment.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available