IL28B CC genotype is associated with increased TH1 but not TH2 type cytokine production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in chronic HCV1 infection

Background: IL28B CC genotype is the strongest pretreatment predictor of SVR in HCV1 patients treated with PEG-IFN and ribavirin. IL28B CC also associated with improved early viral kinetics and greater likelihood of rapid virological response (RVR) compared with CT or TT genotypes. Since the immunological mechanisms underlying the observed relationship between IL28B genotype, RVR and SVR remain unknown the aim of the present study was to compare peripheral blood monocytes and lymphocytes IFN-gamma, TNF-alfa, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10 cytokine production of patients with IL28B CC, CT and TT haplotypes.