The interferon stimulated gene 15 functions as a proviral factor for the hepatitis C virus and as a regulator of the IFN response

Abstract

ISG15 plays an important role in the HCV replication cycle. Therefore, therapies based on the suppression of ISG15 may provide a promising strategy to overcome non-response to standard combination treatment in the future. Furthermore, analysis of ISG15 prior to therapy may be useful to predict short-term and long-term outcome and thus tailor antiviral therapy with pegIFN and ribavirin.