Whereas these reports were concerned especially with host specific responses to HCV infection, no studies addressing viral modulation of the IFN response have been reported, even though such studies might be important for understanding viral evasion mechanisms in response to IFN therapy and for improving therapy effectiveness for chronic hepatitis C. Therefore, in this study we performed cDNA microarray analysis using a human hepatocyte chimeric mouse model and obtained gene expression profiles to investigate direct influences of HCV infection on IFN responses in human hepatocytes. This evidence concerns the gene IFNA1 and chronic hepatitis C virus infection.