the present invention relates to identification of a gene upregulated by interferon - α administration corresponding to the cdna sequence set forth in seq . id . no . 1 and seq . id . no . 3 . determination of expression products of this gene is proposed ahaigutility in predicting responsiveness to treatment with interferon - at and othe interferons which act at the type 1 interferon receptor . therapeutic use of the protein encoded by the same gene is also envisaged .