Chronic hepatitis C virus infection: Enhanced expression of suppressor of cytokine signalling-1 in hepatic cells and its role in response to interferon therapy

ABSTRACT

Expression of Suppressor of Cytokine Signalling-1 [SOCS-1] in liver tissues of chronic hepatitis C patients [CMC] and to assess whether SOCS-1 had any relationship to resistance to interferon-a [INF-alpha] therapy. RT-PCR was done on hepatic tissues obtained from 42 CMC patients before starting of INF-alpha therapy and 26 controls without CMC with normal livers for detection of SOCS-1 mRNA. And also, on serum samples collected from CMC patients at the end of treatment by INF-alpha to assess respond to therapy. SOCS-1 expression in hepatic tissues of CMC patients in a significant higher incidences than controls [p<0.0001]. The response to INF- alpha therapy was found in [30.9%] of CMC patients. There is over-expression of SOCS-1 in hepatic tissues from non-responders to INF- alpha therapy [96.6%]. SOCS-1 expression is enhanced in the livers of CMC patients and involved in resistance to INF- alpha therapy