Relationship between IL28B gene rs8099917 polymorphism and SVR in Turkish patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 1

The Impact of Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and IFN-γ-Inducible Protein 10 (IP-10) Genes' Polymorphism on Risk of Hepatitis C Virus-Related Liver Cirrhosis

Background: Today there is increasing evidence concerning the association between individual genetic polymorphisms within proinflammatory cytokines and chronic hepatitis C (CHC) severity. It has been demonstrated that polymorphisms in some genes may significantly predict HCV infected patients' susceptibility to developing liver cirrhosis or their responsiveness to the treatment.Aim: We investigated the influence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in Interferon (IFN-γ) and Interferon Gamma-Inducible Protein 10 (IP-10) genes on cirrhosis risk in HCV-infected patients and their association with response to various direct-acting antiviral drugs (DAAs).Methods: IFN-γ (+874T/A, +2109A/G) and IP-10 (-135G/A, -1447A/G) genotypes were determined in 175 CHC Egyptian HCV patients (69 liver cirrhotic and 106 non-cirrhotic patients) using either single-stranded polymorphism polymerase chain reaction (SSP-PCR) or Restriction fragment length-PCR (RFLP-PCR) methods.Results: IFN-γ + 874 TA, IP-10 - 135AA, and IP-10 - 1447AA and IP-10 - 1447GG genotypes are increased in patients developing liver cirrhosis compared to non-cirrhotic ones. Although, no statistical significance in their distribution was demonstrated, indicating the lack of association between these SNPs and liver cirrhosis susceptibility in HCV-infected patients. Haplotypes analysis between different loci on all selected genes showed a significant increase in AGGA and TAGA and a significant decrease in TGGA haplotypes in cirrhotic patients. Genotype frequencies at loci -135 and -1447 of IP-10 appeared to be in complete Linkage disequilibrium (LD) (D' = 0.999, r² = 0.689).Conclusion: Our data support the concept that IFN-γ and IP-10 gene polymorphisms are not predictors of disease progression among Egyptian patients with HCV infection.

Assessment of HLADP gene rs3128917 and rs9380343 polymorphisms in chronic HBV infection

BACKGROUND/AIMS

About 400 million people worldwide have been exposed to Hepatitis B (HBV) infection. A range of 10%-15% of chronic HBV carriers may present with various liver diseases including cirrhosis and hepatic cancer. The chronicity or clearance of HBV infection is dependent on viral and genetic variables. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have reported that the variants of human leukocyte antigen (HLA), rs3128917 and rs9380343, are significantly related to persistent HBV infection. HLA molecules are responsible for introducing various antigens into the immune system. These variants might affect antigen presentation by influencing HLA mRNA expression, therefore, antigen presentation may not be performed properly. This study aims to assess the relationship of HLA gene variants to chronic HBV infection.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

HLA variants were explored in 238 chronic HBV patients and in 238 individuals with spontaneous clearance of HBV using PCR-RFLP assay.

RESULTS

The allele and genotype of rs9380343 polymorphism were associated with persistent HBV infection risk (allele: p=0.038, genotype: p=0.029), but rs3128917 polymorphism was not significant. Additionally, rs9380343 polymorphism was also related to increased risk of HBV infection in males (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

The current study is the first report demonstrating the HLA rs9380343 polymorphism as a genetic risk factor for chronicity of HBV infection. Further independent studies are required to confirm the current findings using a larger sample size in different populations.

Genetic variants in IFIH1 and DDX58 influence hepatitis C virus clearance in Chinese Han population

AIMS

To investigate the association between two RIG-I-like receptor gene polymorphisms and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Chinese Han population.

METHODS

The current study genotyped two selected SNPs (IFIH1 rs3747517 and DDX58 rs9695310) using TaqMan allelic discrimination assay to assess their association with the susceptibility and clinical outcome of HCV infection among 3065 participants (1545 non-HCV infection individuals, 568 spontaneous HCV clearance cases, and 952 persistent infection patients).

RESULTS

IFIH1 rs3747517 (dominant model: Adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 1.34, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.07-1.68; P = 0.009) and DDX58 rs9695310 (dominant model: Adjusted OR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.15-1.78; P = 0.001) were associated with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). And the risk of CHC increased when people were carrying more unfavorable rs3747517-GA/AA and rs9695310-GC/CC genotypes from zero to two with the chronic rates of 56.72%, 59.38%, and 69.01%, respectively (Ptrend  < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Genetic variations at IFIH1 rs3747517 and DDX58 rs9695310 were independent predictors of chronic hepatitis C in Chinese Han population.

EGFR rs11506105 and IFNL3 SNPs but not rs8099917 are strongly associated with treatment responses in Iranian patients with chronic hepatitis C

Interferon lambda 3 (IFNL3) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) may play a key role in the spontaneous clearance of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and treatment responses. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of IFNL3 SNPs and EGFR rs11506105 on treatment outcomes in patients with chronic HCV (CHC). IFNL3 SNPs and EGFR rs11506105 were genotyped by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism and PCR-sequencing, respectively, in 235 naïve patients with CHC infection. The frequency of rapid virologic response (RVR), complete early virologic response (cEVR) and sustained virologic response (SVR) were 52.3%, 76.2% and 64.7% respectively. The results of this study showed that RVR was associated with ALT (P=0.015), AST (P=0.020), IFNL3 rs12979860 (CC) (P=0.043), rs12980275 (AA) (P=1 × 10-4), and EGFR rs11506105 (AA) (P=0.010), and IFNL3 rs12979860 (CC) (P=0.048), rs12980275 (AA) (P=0.022), and EGFR rs11506105 (AA) (P=0.006) were correlated with cEVR. HCV genotype (P=0.007), IFNL3 rs12979860 (CC) (P=0.023), IFNL3 rs12980275 (AA) (P=1 × 10-4), EGFR rs11506105 (AA) (P=0.005), RVR (P=1 × 10-4), and cEVR (P=0.003) were significant predictors for SVR. These results, for the first time, revealed that beside IFNL3 SNPs, EGFR rs11506105 is strongly associated with RVR, cEVR and SVR. EGFR rs11506105 besides IFNL3 SNPs could predict treatment responses in CHC patients.