AIM: Although increased insulin-like growth factor-I receptor (IGF-IR) gene expression has been reported in hepatocellular carcinoma, studies assessing IGF-IR in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and cirrhosis are scarce. We therefore aimed to evaluate IGF-IR and IGF-I mRNA expression in liver from patient with CHC.METHODS: IGF-IR and IGF-I mRNA content were determined by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and IGF-IR protein expression was determined by immunohisto chemistry in hepatic tissue obtained from patients with CHC before (34 patients) and after(10patients) therapy with interferon-α and ribavirin.RESULTS: An increase of IGF-IR mRNA content was observed in hepatictissue obtained from all CHC patients as well as from 6 cadaveric liver donors following orthopic transplantation (an attempt to evaluate normal livers) in comparison to normalliver, while no relevant modifications were detected in IGF-I mRNA content.The immunohistochemical results showed that the raise in IGF-IR mRNA content was related both to ductular reaction and to increased IGF-IR expression in hepatocytes. A decrease in IGF-IR mRNA content was observed in patients who achieved sustained virological response after therapy, suggesting an improvement in hepatic damage.CONCLUSION: The up-regulation of IGF-IR expression in hepatocytes of patients with CHC could constitute an attempt to stimulate hepatocyte regeneration.Considering that liver is the organ with the highest levels of IGF-I, our finding of increased IGF-IR expression after both acute and chronic hepatic damage highlights the need for additional studies to elucidate the role of IGF-I in liver regeneration.