[Type I IFN receptor].

Abstract

Interferon(IFN) alpha and IFN beta apparently share the same receptor structure, the type I IFN receptor, which consist of at least two subunits. The subunits are referred to as IFN AR1(IFN alpha receptor) and IFNAR2(IFN alpha/beta receptor). As IFN elicits antiviral activity by binding to receptors on the cell surface, the expression of the type I IFN receptor in liver may be directly involved in the pathogenesis of viral hepatitis and response to IFN therapy. Here we discuss if the IFN receptor expression in liver and peripheral blood mononuclear cells can be a predictive factor for the response to IFN therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C.