RNA Interference: A Promising Approach for the Treatment of Viral Hepatitis

Hepatitis viruses are the leading cause of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) worldwide. Thehepatitis C virus (HCV), together with the hepatitis B virus(HBV), accounts for 75% of all cases of liver disease aroundthe world, with chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and HCCcausing 500,000 to 1.2 million deaths per year (1-3). Morethan 170 million people worldwide have chronic HCV infection.According to the 2002 WHO report, chronic liverdiseases were responsible for 1.4 million deaths, including796,000 deaths due to cirrhosis and 616,000 deathsdue to primary liver cancer. At least 20% of these deaths(more than 280,000 deaths) are probably attributable toHCV infection (4). With the WHO officially recognizinghepatitis as a global health issue, more research needs tobe conducted to develop new therapeutic interventions.Current antiviral therapies for chronic viral hepatitis areeffective only in approximately half of the patients (5).