Interferon-Induced Gene Expression in Liver Cells and Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes

This proposal seeks to use DNA analyses to understand how racial and genetic factors influence interferon (treatment) response in HCV infection in African Americans. A better understanding should allow rational design of new therapies or better use of existing therapies. Patients will provide medical history and undergo a physical exam, blood draws, electrocardiogram, possible chest x-ray, and abdominal ultrasound. Patients will be admitted to the hospital for 5 days and undergo 2 liver biopsies, sedation, and multiple blood draws. Twenty adult male volunteers (10 Caucasians,10 African Americans) ages 18 - 65 years will participate.