Research progress on interferon λ in chronic hepatitis B / 中华临床感染病杂志

ABSTRACT

Hepatitis B is a major public health problem in China. Nucleoside/nucleotide analogues and interferon(IFN) can effectively inhibit the replication of hepatitis B virus, but the treatment effect is still not so effective because cccDNA cannot be completely removed. IFNλ is a newly discovered family of cytokines that induces antiviral, antiproliferative and antitumor effects by activating the Jak-STAT pathway. Recent studies have found that IFNλ is also of great significance in hepatitis B as a therapeutic agent and immunological indicator. IFNλ can effectively inhibit the replication of hepatitis B virus, while the gene polymorphisms of IFNλ are closely related to prognosis and susceptibility to hepatitis B; and IFNλ also shows a certain anti-tumor activity in hepatitis B-related hepatocellular carcinoma. IFNλ is expected to be used as a clinical adjuvant treatment for patients with hepatitis B. This article describes the current research progress on IFNλ in hepatitis B.