Global transcriptional effects of PEG-IFN-α and ribavirin on peripheral blood cells obtained from patients with chronic hepatitis C

The global transcriptional profile during the first 4 weeks of treatment with pegylated interferon alfa (PEG-IFN-α) therapy for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) was evaluated. cDNA array technology was used to assess expression of 10,918 human genes in peripheral blood cells obtained from 17 CHC patients at days 0, 7, and 28 following treatment with PEG-IFN-α and ribavirin. Hierarchical average linkage clustering identified seven temporal profiles of differential expression comprising 148 genes. Gene expression profiles were comparable between the PEG-IFN-α-2a and PEG-IFN-α-2b therapy. Genes representing a broad range of molecular functions were differentially regulated with distinct temporal patterns of expression. The initial global response to interferon treatment appears to be a net up-regulation of genes, consistent with gene responses identified previously in vitro, though by 4 weeks an overall down-regulation of genes was observed. Novel transcription factors potentially involved in secondary gene regulation cascades, a potential dsRNA receptor and members of the ubiquitin signaling, including a novel predicted deubiquitinating peptidase were all identified as being up-regulated upon treatment with IFN. The overall findings provide new light on possible physiological effects of IFN-α and open new lines of investigations on the mode of action of PEG-IFN-α combination therapy.