Interferon-alpha receptor 1 mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells is associated with response to interferon-alpha therapy of patients with chronic hepatitis C

interferon (ifn)-a receptor mrna expression in liver of patients with chronic hepatitis c has been shown to be a response to ifn-a therapy. the objective of the present study was to determine whether the expression of mrna for subunit 1 of the ifn-a receptor (ifnar1) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (pbmc) is associated with the response to ifn-a in patients with chronic hepatitis c. thirty patients with positive anti-hcv and hcv-rna, and abnormal levels of alanine aminotransferase in serum were selected and treated with ifn-a2b for one year. those with hbv or hiv infection, or using alcohol were not included. thirteen discontinued the treatment and were not evaluated. the ifn-a response was monitored on the basis of alanine aminotransferase level and positivity for hcv-rna in serum. ifnar1-mrna expression in pbmc was measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction before and during the first three months of therapy. the results are reported as ifnar1-mrna/？-actin-mrna ratio (mean ± sd). before treatment, responder patients had significantly higher ifnar1-mrna expression in pbmc (0.67 ± 0.15; n = 5; p < 0.05) compared to non-responders (0.35 ± 0.17; n = 12) and controls (0.30 ± 0.16; n = 9). moreover, ifnar1-mrna levels were significantly reduced after 3 months of treatment in responders, whereas there were no differences in ifnar1 expression in non-responders during ifn-a therapy. basal ifnar1-mrna expression was not correlated with the serum level of alanine and aspartate aminotransferases or the presence of cirrhosis. the present results suggest that ifnar1-mrna expression in pbmc is associated with ifn-a response to hepatitis c and may be useful for monitoring therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis c.