The Role of Interferon-? Locus Polymorphisms in Hepatitis C and Other Infectious Diseases.
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ABSTRACT: Since its discovery in 2003, the type III interferon-? (IFN-?) family has been found to contribute significantly to the host response to infection. Whilst IFN-? shares many features with type I IFN induction and signalling pathways, the tissue-specific restricted expression of its receptor, IL28RA, makes IFN-? a major mediator of host innate immunity in tissues and organs with a high epithelial cell content. Host susceptibility and responses to infection are known to be heterogeneous, and the identification of common genetic variants linked to disease outcome by genome-wide association studies (GWAS) has underscored the significance of host polymorphisms in responses to infection. Several such GWAS have highlighted the IFN-? locus on chromosome 19q13 as an area of genetic variation significantly associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, and the rs12979860 genotype can be used in clinical practice as a biomarker for predicting a successful response to treatment with pegylated IFN and ribavarin. Here, we discuss IFN-? genetic polymorphisms and their role in HCV and other infectious diseases as well as their potential impact on clinical diagnostics, patient stratification and therapy. Finally, the broader role of IFN-? in the immunopathogenesis of non-infectious inflammatory diseases is considered.
SUBMITTER: Griffiths SJ
PROVIDER: S-EPMC6738896 | biostudies-literature | 2015
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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