Human Interferon Alpha2a as Anti Hepatitis B and C

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver mainly caused by hepatitis viruses. There are 5 different types of hepatitis based on the infecting virus; A, B, C, D and E. Hepatitis B and C are chronic diseases that potentially develop into hepatocarcinoma and cirrhosis on unappropriate treatments. World Health Organization (WHO) stated that currently 350 million people worldwide are living with chronic hepatitis B and 150 million people are living with Hepatitis C. The mortality rate in the world due to hepatitis is about 1.5 million people per year. The human interferon alpha2a (hIFNα2a) is a therapeutic protein used as therapeutic protein for hepatitis B and C. This review discusses the hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) viruses, mechanisms of hIFNα2a as antivirus through signal transduction pathway and improvement of hIFNα2a properties by protein modification. The application of recombinant hIFNα2a (rhIFNα2a) in the treatment of hepatitis B and C that recommended by European Association for The Study of Liver (EASL) and the viral resistance mechanism are also included. The status of hepatitis B and C and the development of rhIFNα2a is also described as well