To investigate the expression of SOCS-3 in the peripheral blood and discuss its predictive value of RVR in combination therapy with pegylated interferon alpha and ribavirin in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

68 patients with chronic hepatitis C received combination therapy with pegylated interferon alpha and ribavirin, at baseline, total RNA was eluted from peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs) and synthesis of cDNA by reverse transcription were carried out, and then real-time RT-PCR was used to detect SOCS3 mRNA relative contents. Clinical data, HCV RNA virus load, biochemical parameters, HCV genotype were collected.

After 4 weeks treatment, 38 patients obtained RVR, and compared with 30 cases of NRVR, SOCS3 mRNA relative contents at baseline were 0.0112±0.0071和0.0220±0.0205(u=-2.322, P=0.020); there was no significant difference between RVR and NRVR in patient's age, sex ratio, HCV genotype, HCV RNA virus load, ALT, AST, TB, ALB, GLB, peripheral blood WBC and PLT. There were 12 cases(80.00%), 23 cases(56.09%)and 3 cases(25.00%)in SOCS-3 low expression group(<0.0072), medium expression group(≥0.0072, <0.0223) and high expression group(≥0.0223)obtained RVR respectively, the difference was significant(χ²=8.182, P=0.016).

SOCS-3 has predictive value of RVR in combination therapy with Peg-IFN/RBV in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Opsonins; Hepatitis C; Interferons; Therapeutics