The complete title: The effect of interleukin-28B rs12979860 polymorphism on the therapeutic response of Moroccan patients with chronic hepatitis C

Impact of Interleukin 28B and ICAM-1 Genetic Polymorphisms on Response to Direct Antiviral Treatment Among HCV Infected Patients

BACKGROUND

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of IL-28B and/or ICAM-1 could have a role in expecting a response from HCV infected patients to direct antiviral agents (DAAs).

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the current study was to investigate the impact of IL-28B rs12979860 and rs8099917, and, ICAM-1 rs281437 SNPs on response to treatment with sofosbuvir + Daclatsvir ± Ribavirin, among HCV-infected Egyptian patients.

METHODS

Whole blood genomic DNA was extracted from 120 participants (80 HCV-infected patients and 40 healthy volunteers). HCV-infected patients were subdivided into responders and nonresponders to DAAs. Liver function testing, anti-HCV antibodies, HCV-RNA viral load and HCV genotyping were performed. IL-28B and ICAM-1 SNPs were evaluated by real-time PCR.

RESULTS

ALT and AST levels were significantly higher among non-responder HCV infected patients (P = 0.001*). 90% of the patients had HCV genotype 4a and the remaining 10% had 4l genotype. Allelic discrimination revealed that IL-28B rs12979860 T, IL-28B rs809917 T and ICAM-1 rs281437 C alleles were more frequent among HCV-infected patients (responders or non-responders) than controls. However, IL-28B rs8099917 G allele was more frequent among healthy controls. Regarding the response to DAAs treatment, HCV-infected patients with IL-28B rs8099917 GG genotype showed a significantly earlier viral response compared to those carrying TT alleles. ICAM-1 rs281437 CT alleles were non significantly more frequent among responders. However, IL-28B rs12979860 alleles did not show any difference.

CONCLUSION

Genotyping of IL-28B rs8099917 is a useful independent tool for expecting a response of Egyptian HCV-infected patients to DAAs.

Clinical significance of IL-28B expression in HBV related hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM: To detect the expression of interleukin-28B (IL-28B) gene in human HBV related hepatocellular carcinoma, and analyze the relationship between IL-28B expression and clinicopathologic features of HBV related hepatocellular carcinoma.

METHODS: Serum samples were collected from 96 patients with HBV related hepatocellular carcinoma and 84 patients with HBV related benign hepatic nodules. Serum levels of IL-28B were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA). The expression of IL-28B in HBV related hepatocellular carcinoma tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS: The mean level of serum IL-28B was significantly higher in the HBV related hepatocellular carcinoma group than in the HBV related benign hepatic nodules group. Immunohistochemistry showed that the positive expression rate of IL-28B was significantly higher in HBV related hepatocellular carcinoma tissues than in HBV related hepatic benign nodule tissues (83.33% vs 66.66%, P < 0.05). IL-28B expression was not correlated with age, gender, HBV DNA, or tumor differentiation, but it was significantly related to AFP, tumor maximum diameter and clinical TNM stage (χ² = 6.653, 6.732, and 8.642, P < 0.05 for all).

CONCLUSION: The level of IL-28B has certain value in the diagnosis of HBV related hepatocellular carcinoma. The expression of IL-28B in HBV related hepatocellular carcinoma tissues significantly increases, which correlates with AFP, tumor maximum diameter and clinical TNM stage. The dysregulated expression of IL-28B might participate in the genesis and development of HBV related hepatocellular carcinoma.