HCV genotype 4 dominates the HCV epidemic in Egypt. Drug resistance was the most serious side effect that reflects bad clinical outcome. Several studies had demonstrated that baseline serum interferon-γ-inducible-protein 10 (IP-10) levels and interleukin 28B polymorphisms were associated with the resistance to the standard of care pegylated interferon alpha and ribavirin (PEG-IFNα/RBV) therapy and development of post-treatment relapse. Our purpose was to assess the predictive value of combining IP-10 levels and IL28B genotypes to PEG-IFNα/RBV therapy response in Egyptian chronic HCV infection patients with genotype 4. Ninety Egyptian patients chronically infected by HCV genotype-4 treated with pegylated interferon alpha and ribavirin (PEG-IFNα/RBV) therapy were enrolled. Serum IP-10 levels were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay pre- and post- treatment. IL-28B (rs12979860 and rs8099917) polymorphisms were performed by PCR-RFLP in all patients. Overall, 38 patients (42.2%) achieved sustained virologic response (SVR) and 52 (57.8%) patients have non-viral response (NVR). Pretreatment serum IP-10 mean levels were significantly lower in patients who achieved SVR than in NVR (P<0.05). CC genotype in IL28B polymorphism (rs12979860) was the favorable genotype as 65.8% achieved SVR, while TT genotype in IL-28B polymorphism (rs8099917) was the favorable genotype as 81.5% achieved SVR. Baseline IP-10 was significantly correlated to genotypes CC in rs12979860 and TT in rs8099917. Combined use of serum baseline IP-10 levels with IL-28B polymorphisms could improve the prediction of SVR to PEG-IFNα/RBV therapy in Egyptian chronic HCV infection patients with genotype 4.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Egypt is the most serious health problem. Identifying HCV-positive persons at high risk of early complications can help prioritize treatment decisions. Recently, attention has been directed to non-invasive, accurate alternatives using serum biochemical markers. The transforming growth factor β 1/interleukins pathway plays an important role in the process of cell injury and inflammation. Thus, TGF-β1 and IL-17 were assessed in serum of chronic HCV patients with correlation to hepatic inflammatory and fibrotic status. The quantitative serum levels of TGF-β1 and IL-17 were analyzed among chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients (n=75) and normal control (NC) subjects (n=15). Disease severity in patients was assessed using the Child-Pugh scores and METAVIR. Serum levels of TGF-β1 and IL-17 were significantly increased in HCV patients compared to control group. Furthermore, the levels of TGF-β1 and Il-17 were positively correlated to serum transaminases and alpha-fetoprotein and they were negatively correlated with serum albumin and platelets. Additionally, the serum levels of TGF-β1 and Il-17 were associated with inflammation grades and stages of liver fibrosis. TGF-β1 and IL-17 may be hopeful serum biomarkers concerned in the progression of liver inflammation and fibrosis accompanying chronic HCV infection. Therefore, they could be used in the future as targets for anti-fibrotic therapy of chronic HCV to ameliorate the disease progress.