Liver derived endogenous opioids may interfere with the therapeutic effect of interferon in chronic hepatitis C

Analogous to the effect of morphine on the hepatitis C-replicon containing liver cells, we hypothesize that Met-enkephalin enhances the replication of the hepatitis C virus in liver cells, and that it interferes with the antiviral effect of interferon, contributing to the lack of efficacy of this medication in the treatment of this viral infection in some patients. If this hypothesis is correct, the study of opiate antagonists in combination with antiviral therapy in patients with hepatitis C expressing MEIR in their livers merits consideration.