The current standard therapy for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection consists of a combination of interferon α(IFN-α) and ribavirin. In this study, the effects of IFN-α and ribavirin on HCV replication as well as antiviral genes were examined. The results showed that 100 u/ml IFN-α significantly reduced HCV RNA levels. Ribavirin inhibited HCV replication in a dose-dependent manner and ribavirin in combination with IFN-α exhibited synergetic inhibitory effect on HCV replication, and NS3 and E2 protein expression. IFN-α increased the levels of IFN regulatory factor 9 (IRF9) and IFN-stimulated gene 15 (ISG15) in a dose-dependent manner. However, 1 and 5 μg/ml ribavirin had no such effects on the IRF9 and ISG15 induction.