Volume 30, Issue 2, 2021
DOI: 10.24205/03276716.2020.4047
Type I interferon and hepatitis B virus
Abstract
In addition to its antiviral effect, type I interferon (IFN-I) also functions in the regulation of immune response and involves in the regulation of the activity of immune system that is recognized as pleiotropic cytokine mediating both immunostimulatory and immunosuppressive effects. In acute and chronic infection, IFN-I can induce a various spectrum of immune responses. Although IFN-I has been applied in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B, the treatment efficacy are still not satisfactory and only 30% of certain patients have shown positive effect with IFN-1 treatment. IFN-I is recently reported not to be eligible for the elimination of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in some specific cases. This review summarizes the immunomodulatory functions of IFN-I and the role in HBV.
Keywords
Type I interferon; immune regulation; Hepatitis B virus