The present work was designed to investigate the potential role of TLR7 and IFNL1 in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) in relation to viral replication and liver injury.
Human interleukin-29 (IL-29), a helical cytokine with interferon-like activities, is currently being developed as a clinical biotherapeutic to treat chronic hepatitis C infection and some cancers.
Patients with acute hepatitis C showed IL-29 levels intermediate between chronic hepatitis C and normal controls; and IL-29 serum levels were higher in patients who spontaneously resolved hepatitis C than in those who became chronic.