Interleukin 10 gene single nucleotide polymorphisms in Polish patients with chronic hepatitis C: Analysis of association with severity of disease and treatment outcome

Genetic variants of IL-10 promoter influence susceptibility to HIV-1 infection and disease progression in the Polish population: IL-10 polymorphisms and HIV-1

The risk of HIV-1 infection and the rate of disease progression vary considerably among individuals and the genetic makeup of the host may be one of the possible reasons for this. We aimed to determine association of functional single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs), -1082A/G (rs1800896), -819C/T (rs1800871), and -592C/A (rs1800872) in IL-10 gene, with the susceptibility to HIV-1 infection and clinical parameters expressed as a baseline CD4+ T cell count, CD8+ T cell count, and viral load. Therapy naïve HIV-1 infected individuals and HIV-1 seronegative controls from Poland were recruited for this study. Genotyping results revealed significantly higher frequency of -1082G/G genotype (28.1 % vs 16.1 %; p = 0.0019, OR=0.49) and -1082G allele (47.6 % vs 38.8 %; p = 0.0028, OR = 0.70) as well as lower frequency of -592 and -819 heterozygosity (45.0 % vs 34.4 %; p = 0.0266, OR = 1.47) in controls compared to seropositive subjects. High producing haplotype GCC was associated with increased risk of HIV-1 infection (p = 0.0018, OR = 1.52). Individuals possessing -592 and -819 minor allele had significantly higher CD8+ T cell count compared to the wild type allele carriers (p = 0.0303). Moreover, presence of -1082G allele was related with lower viral load as well as CD4+ and CD8+ T cells counts among patients infected with R5 HIV-1 variant. Thus, IL-10 gene promoter variants may be a risk factor for HIV-1 transmission and may modulate disease progression in the Polish population.

The role of IL10 and IL17 gene polymorphisms in treatment response in children and adolescents with severe asthma

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether polymorphisms of the IL10 and IL17 genes are associated with severe asthma control and bronchodilator reversibility in children and adolescents with severe asthma.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study, nested within a prospective cohort study of patients with severe asthma. Two outcomes were evaluated: asthma control and bronchodilator reversibility. We extracted DNA from peripheral blood and genotyped three single nucleotide polymorphisms: rs3819024 and rs2275913 in the IL17A gene; and rs3024498 in the IL10 gene. For the association analyses, we performed logistic regression in three genetic models (allelic, additive, and dominant).

RESULTS

The rs3024498 C allele in the IL10 gene was associated with failure to achieve asthma control despite regular treatment (p = 0.02). However, the G allele of the IL17A rs3819024 polymorphism was associated with failure to respond to stimulation with a b2 agonist. The rs2275913 polymorphism of the IL17A gene showed no relationship with asthma control or bronchodilator reversibility.

CONCLUSIONS

In pediatric patients with severe asthma, the IL10 polymorphism appears to be associated with failure to achieve clinical control, whereas the IL17A polymorphism appears to be associated with a worse bronchodilator response. Knowledge of the involvement of these polymorphisms opens future directions for pharmacogenetic studies and for the implementation of individualized therapeutic management of severe asthma in pediatric patients.

Impact of IL-10 gene promoter polymorphisms on treatment response in HCV patients: A systematic review, a meta-analysis, and a meta-regression

The impact of interleukin-10 (IL-10) gene promoter polymorphisms (SNPs) on treatment response in HCV patients was dissimilarly estimated. Hence, the aim of this meta-analysis was to robustly assess the effect of IL-10 SNPs on treatment response in HCV patients. An electronic literature search was carried out through PubMed, EMBASE, Web of science, and Scopus databases. Studies assessing the association between IL-10 polymorphisms and treatment response in HCV patients were included. Studies were excluded if genotype frequencies are not consistent with the Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium (HWE) or in case of including patients with hepatitis B virus coinfection. Risk of bias in included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Meta-analyses were performed for the influence of IL-10 gene promoter SNPs (rs1800896 (-1082 A/G), rs1800871 (-819 C/T), and rs1800872 (-592 C/T)) and haplotypes on treatment response in HCV patients. Subgroup analyses, meta-regressions, publication bias assessment, and sensitivity analyses were also conducted. Overall, 32 studies with a total of 5943 HCV cases and 2697 controls were included in the present study. The -1082*G allele was significantly associated with increased risk of non-response (NR) to treatment, OR [95% CI] = 1.29 [1.1-1.51], p = .002. Besides, the rs1800872 -592*C allele was significantly associated with increased NR risk, OR [95% CI] = 1.22 [1.02-1.46], p = .03. Subgroup analysis showed that this association remained significant only in patients treated with PEG-IFN alone, p = .01. The -1082*G/-819*C/-592*C (GCC) haplotype was significantly associated with increased NR risk, OR [95% CI] = 1.62 [1.13-2.23], p = .009. Our results suggest that the IL-10 rs1800896 was associated with NR risk especially in North-African and Asian populations. Moreover, the IL-10 gene promoter -1082*G/-819*C/-592*C (GCC) haplotype which has been associated with higher production of IL-10, was significantly associated with increased NR risk.

Association of IL6 and IL10 gene promotor polymorphisms with susceptibility to acute necrotizing encephalopathy

Objective

Acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE) is a severe complication of infectious diseases affecting the brain and systemic organs. The main pathogenesis is cytokine storm, in which interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) are candidates for key cytokines. To further elucidate their roles in the etiology and pathogenesis of ANE, we studied polymorphisms in the promotor regions of the IL6 and IL10 genes by genetic and functional analyses.

Methods

We first conducted a case-control association study of four IL6 and three IL10 polymorphisms. We genotyped 31 Japanese ANE cases and compared the results with those of approximately 200 Japanese controls. For the two polymorphisms showing a possible association, we next studied whether the polymorphisms alter the production of IL-6 or IL-10 by lymphoblasts upon phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) stimulation.

Results

The frequencies of IL6 rs1800796G allele and IL10 rs1800871/rs1800872 CC/CC diplotype were significantly higher in ANE cases than in controls. The IL10 CC/CC diplotype was associated with low IL-10 production, whereas the IL6 GG genotype was not associated with IL-6 production.

Conclusion

IL10 rs1800871/rs1800872 CC/CC diplotype may predispose Japanese children to ANE by altering IL-10 production in the early phase of infection. Etio-pathogenetic significance of IL6 rs1800796G remains to be elucidated.

Role of Inflammatory/Immune Response and Cytokine Polymorphisms in the Severity of Chronic Hepatitis C (CHC) before and after Direct Acting Antiviral (DAAs) Treatment

Host regulatory immune response is involved in the hepatic inflammatory process caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). We aimed to determine if HCV clearance with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) changes the hepatic fibrosis stage, biochemical parameters of liver injury, and inflammatory/immune responses. Sample: 329 chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients, 134 of them treated with DAAs. Liver fibrosis was evaluated by transient elastography (FibroScan), biochemical and cellular parameters were determined by standard methods, cytokine concentration by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA), and genetic polymorphisms by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) or endpoint genotyping. Before DAA treatment, severe fibrosis or cirrhosis (F3/4) was associated with higher values of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and genotypes transforming growth factor-beta-509 C/T_CC (TGF-β-509 C/T_CC), interleukine-10-1082 T/C_CC (IL-10-1082 T/C_CC), and IL-10-592 G/T_GT. After DAA treatment, fewer F3/4 patients and lower values of TNF-α were found. Patients with TNF-α-308 G/A_GG and IL-10-592 G/T_GT were at risk for F3/4. Lack of improvement of liver fibrosis was associated with lower baseline values of platelet count for genotypes TNF-α-308 G/A_GG and haplotype TT/GG of IL-10-1082 T/C and IL-10-592 G/T. Our study showed decreased liver fibrosis/inflammation and normalization of liver injury biomarkers after DAA treatment. It also points to the importance of suppressing the pro-inflammatory response by DAAs in the resolution of hepatitis C, contributing to the improvement of liver damage evaluated by transient elastography.

Association of macrophage inhibitory factor -1 polymorphisms with antiviral efficacy of type 1b chronic hepatitis C

The expression of macrophage inhibitory factor-1 (MIC-1) increases in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC), but whether MIC-1 level and its polymorphism affect the antiviral efficacy of CHC has not yet been reported. The present study aimed to investigate the association between MIC-1 polymorphism and antiviral efficacy in patients with CHC genotype 1b (CHC 1b). A total of 171 patients with CHC1b were recruited. The polymorphisms of rs1059369 and rs1059519 in MIC-1 were detected by DNA sequencing. All patients received a standard dose of polyethylene glycol interferon + ribavirin (PR regimen), and divided into response, nonresponse, sustained virological response (SVR), and non-sustained virological response (NSVR) groups based on HCV RNA levels. The genotype distribution of the two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) did not differ between the response and nonresponse groups, SVR and non-SVR groups. However, the level of MIC-1 was positively correlated with ALT, AST, PIIINP, CIV, and HCV RNA (P < 0.05). Compared to before treatment, the level of MIC-1 in plasma was significantly decrease in the response group but not in the non-responsive group. Our results suggest that the level of MIC-1 in CHC1b is correlated with liver cell injury, liver fibrosis index, and viral load. However, the polymorphism of rs1059369 and rs1059519 may have negligible impact in expression of MIC-1 and efficacy of antiviral therapy in CHC patient.

Association of cytokine gene polymorphisms with chronic hepatitis C virus genotype 1b infection in Chinese Han population: An observational study

Cytokines are extensively involved in the process of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and take a crucial part in host immune regulation. We aimed to explore the potential correlation of cytokine single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with HCV susceptibility and response rate of interferon (IFN)-based antiviral therapy in Chinese Han population.A case-control genetic association study was conducted between 198 patients with chronic HCV genotype 1b infection and 142 healthy controls. Genetic polymorphisms of TNF-α (rs1800629), TGF-β (rs1800469), IL-10 (rs1800896, rs1800871, and rs1800872), IL-6 (rs1800795, rs1800796), IFN-γ (rs2430561), and IL-28B (rs12979860, rs12980275, and rs8099917) were analyzed by MassARRAY SNP technology. Patients were treated with IFNα-2b or pegylated-IFNα-2a plus ribavirin for 48 weeks. Sustained virological response (SVR) was assessed 6 months after the completion of the treatment.The IL-28B rs12979860-CC (odds ratio [OR] = 4.35, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.69-11.21, P = .001), rs12980275-AA (OR = 3.41, 95% CI: 1.08-10.76, P = .028), and rs8099917-TT (OR = 3.86, 95% CI: 1.49-10.12, P = .004) were significantly associated with SVR, and IL-10 rs1800871-TT (OR = .50, 95% CI: 0.25-1.00, P = .049) and rs1800872-AA (OR = .50, 95% CI: 0.25-1.00, P = .049) were also significant for SVR. No association was found between the cytokine SNPs and HCV susceptibility. Additionally, multivariate analysis showed that low baseline viral load (OR = 3.63, 95% CI: 1.01-13.02, P = .048), pegylated-IFN (OR = 9.68, 95% CI: 1.14-82.13, P = .037) and rs12979860-CC (OR = 6.08, 95% CI: 2.00-18.46, P = .001) were independent factors for SVR.IL-28 and IL-10 gene polymorphisms played an important role in predicting host response to IFN-based antiviral therapy in HCV genotype 1b infection.

Impact of IL-10 gene polymorphisms and its interaction with environment on susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus

This study aims to explore the impact of interleukin (IL)-10 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and its interaction with environment on the risk of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Chi-square testing method was used to investigate whether the distributions for genotype of four SNPs were differed from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE). Logistic regression was used to test the association between IL-10 SNPs and SLE risk. The best interaction combinations between IL-10 SNPs and environmental factors were assessed by generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction (GMDR). Both rs1800896-G and rs1800871-T alleles were associated with increased risk of SLE, the odds ratios (ORs) (95% confidence interval (CI)) for the two SNPs were 1.68 (1.25-2.09) and 1.47 (1.12-1.94), respectively. Then, we used the GMDR method to analyze the high-order interactions of four SNPs within IL-10 gene and environmental factors on SLE risk. We found a significant interaction combination (two-locus model with P = 0.001) between rs1800896 and smoking, after adjusting for gender, age, body mass index (BMI), and alcohol drinking. We also used two-variable stratified analysis by logistic regression to analyze the synergistic effect between two variables (rs1800896 and smoking), which had significant significance in GMDR model. We found that current smokers with rs1800896-AG or GG genotype have the highest SLE risk, compared with never smokers with the rs1800896-AA genotype, OR (95% CI) = 2.24 (1.52-3.58). The rs1800896-G and rs1800871-T alleles and interaction between rs1800896 and current smoking were all associated with increased risk of SLE.

IL-10 Polymorphisms and Haplotypes Predict Susceptibility to Hepatocellular Carcinoma Occurrence in Patients with Hepatitis C Virus Infection from Northeast India

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection leads to variable outcomes, ranging from prolonged slow hepatic damage leading to cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Polymorphism in cytokines IL-10 and IL-12 that impact the immune response to HCV infection may play a role in determining this outcome. This study was aimed to determine if polymorphisms in IL-10 and IL-12B contribute to HCV susceptibility and the risk of developing HCC in patients from Northeast India. IL-10 - 1082, -819, -592 polymorphisms and IL-12B -1188 polymorphisms were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism in a total of 266 HCV-infected patients and 100 age- and sex-matched controls. In the HCV-infected subjects, 110 patients had chronic hepatitis C (CHC), 96 with liver cirrhosis, and 60 with HCC. Serum levels of IL-10 were also measured and correlated with disease severity. Haplotype analysis for IL-10 polymorphisms was carried out. Statistical data were analyzed using SPSS ver. 22.0. The frequency of IL-10 - 592 AA genotype/A allele was significantly higher in HCC patients than in CHC patients. The intermediate IL-10-producing ACC haplotype was significantly more frequent in HCC and cirrhotic patients than in CHC patients. No significant association was found for IL-10 - 819, -592 and IL-12B -1188 polymorphisms with the susceptibility to HCV infection or occurrence of HCC in HCV-infected patients. IL-10 - 592 CA polymorphism and IL-10 ACC haplotype are significant biomarkers of HCC in HCV-infected patients from Northeast India. Higher serum levels of IL-10 were also linked to higher disease severity.

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.

Distribution of IL28B and IL10 polymorphisms as genetic predictors of treatment response in Pakistani HCV genotype 3 patients

There are over 10 million hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients in Pakistan. For these patients, a combination of interferon with ribavirin is the most economical and easily available treatment. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms in interleukin genes have been reported to be associated with the pathogenesis and clearance of HCV, and sustained virologic response (SVR). An interleukin 28B (IL28B) gene polymorphism has been shown to modify treatment outcomes, but the effects of interleukin 10 (IL10) polymorphisms have not been previously assessed in the Pakistani population. The present study was conducted with 302 subjects categorized into two groups: 100 healthy volunteers (Group I) and 202 patients with chronic HCV (Group II). Patients within Group II were further divided into two subgroups according to therapeutic response: SVR (responders = 132) and NR (non-responders/relapsers = 70). IL28B (rs8099917, rs12979860) and IL10 (rs1800872, rs1800871, rs1800896) gene polymorphisms were studied in all subjects. A significant difference in the distribution of IL28B rs12979860C/T genotypes between the two groups (p<0.05) was observed, while of the three IL10 polymorphisms, a significant difference was only shown for rs1800896 A/G. Haplotype analysis (IL28B and IL10) showed a significant association of TTGTC and TTGTA when comparing the groups. There was a strong association of the favorable alleles rs8099917T and rs12979860C in the SVR group as compared with the NR group (p<0.05), and rs1800896 also showed an association with the SVR group as compared to the NR group (p<0.004). Haplotype analysis showed significant associations when comparing the SVR and NR subgroups, i.e. TCATC (p=0.009), TTGTA (p=0.005), TCATA (p<0.0005), TCACA (p=0.002), GTGCC (p=0.002) and TCGTC (p=0.005). IL28B (rs8099917 and rs12979860) and IL10 (rs1800896) polymorphisms alone, or in combination, are good predictors of therapeutic response in HCV-3a patients.

Single nucleotide polymorphism rs1800872 in the promoter region of the IL10 gene is associated with predisposition to chronic hepatitis C in Russian population

Previously, we studied an association of two IL28B gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and three IL10 gene SNPs with predisposition to tick-borne encephalitis in a Russian population. In this study, a possible involvement of these SNPs in the development of predisposition to chronic hepatitis C (caused by structurally similar, related virus from the Flaviviridae family) was investigated in the same population. Only the IL10 promoter rs1800872 SNP was associated with predisposition to chronic hepatitis C. This SNP seems to be a common genetic marker of predisposition to two diseases caused by hepatitis C and tick-borne encephalitis viruses in Russian population.

Association of interleukin-10 gene single nucleotide polymorphisms with susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus in a Chinese population

The aim of this study was to investigate the association of interleukin (IL)-10 gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in a Chinese population. 848 SLE patients and 461 normal controls were recruited in this study. Nine SNPs in IL-10 gene (rs1518110, rs1518111, rs1554286, rs1800890, rs1800893, rs3024493, rs3024495, rs3024498 and rs6667202) were genotyped using TaqMan genotyping assays on Fluidigm 192.24 system. The frequency of IL-10 rs3024498-C allele was significantly higher in patient group compared with control subjects (OR=5.118, 95% CI=1.819-14.405, P=0.002). No significant differences were detected for the distribution of allele and genotype frequencies of other eight SNPs between patients with SLE and controls after Bonferroni correction (all P>0.0056). Interestingly, significant differences were detected both in the allele and genotype frequencies of rs3024498 between SLE patients with and without arthritis (P=0.002, P=0.022, respectively).There was significant difference in genotype frequency at rs3024498 between SLE patients with and without malar rash (P=0.040). And, there was significant difference in allele frequency at rs3024498 between SLE patients with and without anti-double-stranded DNA (P=0.032). Meanwhile, significant difference in genotype frequency at rs1518110 and rs1518111 were found in patients with and without lupus headache (P=0.025, P=0.038, respectively). There were significant difference in allele and genotype frequency at rs1800890 and rs6667202 between SLE patients with and without thrombocytopenia (rs1800890: P=0.016, P=0.026, respectively; rs6667202: P=0.007, P=0.007, respectively). Further, significant difference were observed both in allele frequency and in genotype distribution of rs1800893 between patients with and without tubular urine and proteinuria (tubular urine: P<0.001, P=0.003, respectively; proteinuria: P=0.001, P=0.018, respectively). In summary, IL-10 rs3024498 polymorphism might contribute to SLE susceptibility and several clinical phenotypes.

Immunogenetic studies of the hepatitis C virus infection in an era of pan-genotype antiviral therapies - Effective treatment is coming

What are the factors that influence human hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, hepatitis status establishment, and disease progression? Firstly, one has to consider the genetic background of the host and HCV genotypes. The immunogenetic host profile will reflect how each infected individual deals with infection. Secondly, there are environmental factors that drive susceptibility or resistance to certain viral strains. These will dictate (I) the susceptibility to infection; (II) whether or not an infected person will promote viral clearance; (III) the immune response and the response profile to therapy; and (IV) whether and how long it would take to the development of HCV-associated diseases, as well as their severity. Looking at this scenario, this review addresses clinical aspects of HCV infection, following by an update of molecular and cellular features of the immune response against the virus. The evasion mechanisms used by HCV are presented, considering the potential role of exosomes in infection. Genetic factors influencing HCV infection and pathogenesis are the main topics of the article. Shortly, HLAs, MBLs, TLRs, ILs, and IFNLs genes have relevant roles in the susceptibility to HCV infection. In addition, ILs, IFNLs, as well as TLRs genes are important modulators of HCV-associated diseases. The viral aspects that influence HCV infection are presented, followed by a discussion about evolutionary aspects of host and HCV interaction. HCV and HIV infections are close related. Thus, we also present a discussion about HIV/HCV co-infection, focusing on cellular and molecular aspects of this interaction. Pharmacogenetics and treatment of HCV infection are the last topics of this review. The understanding of how the host genetics interacts with viral and environmental factors is crucial for the development of new strategies to prevent HCV infection, even in an era of potential development of pan-genotypic antivirals.

Prevalence of IFNL3 rs4803217 single nucleotide polymorphism and clinical course of chronic hepatitis C

AIM

To evaluate the association of IFNL3 (IL28B) SNP rs4803217 with severity of disease and treatment outcome in chronic hepatitis C (CHC).

METHODS

The study enrolled 196 CHC Polish patients (82 women and 114 men in age 20-64) infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1. They were treatment naïve and qualified to pegylated interferon alpha (PEG-IFN-α) and ribavirin (RBV) therapy. The analyzed baseline parameters included: degree of inflammation, stage of fibrosis, viral load as well as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), asparagine aminotransferase (AST) and total bilirubin (TBIL). The analysis of response to therapy included: sustained virological response (SVR), defined as undetectable serum HCV RNA level six month after completion of 48-wk therapy, and relapse, defined as achieving undetectable viral load at the end of treatment but not SVR. HCV genotyping and HCV RNA quantification were performed using commercially available tests. DNA was isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells or from buccal cell swabs. In addition to rs4803217, also single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs12979860, rs8099917 and rs12980275) of known significance in predicting of HCV clearance were analyzed. SNPs were determined by high resolution melt analysis and confirmed by sequencing of amplicons.

RESULTS

Frequency of rs4803217 genotypes in studied group was as follows: 27.55%; 54.59% and 17.86% for CC, CA and AA, respectively. The rs4803217 SNP, similar to other analyzed SNPs, was not associated with severity of CHC (grade of inflammation, stage of fibrosis, baseline viral load as well as biochemical parameters: ALT, AST, TBIL). It was demonstrated that the rs4803217C allele is associated with SVR (C vs A: P < 0.0001; dose of C allele: P = 0.0002) and non-relapse (C vs A: P = 0.001; dose of C allele: P = 0.002). Moreover, it was found that patients with CC genotype have significantly higher response rates as compared with CA/AA patients (P < 0.0001), whereas patients carrying A allele are significantly predisposed to relapse after treatment (P = 0.0007). Moreover, the association of rs4803217 with SVR was comparable to that of rs12979860 and stronger as observed for rs12980275 and rs8099917. Association of rs4803217 with relapse, was the strongest as compared with the other SNPs. The analysis of combined rs4803217 and rs8099917 genotypes demonstrated that additional genotyping of rs8099917 had no significant impact on the prediction of SVR. Multivariate analysis revealed that among analyzed SNPs only rs4803217 is an independent predictor of SVR (P = 0.016) and relapse (P = 0.024).

CONCLUSION

The rs4803217 SNP is a strong, independent and superior predictor of SVR and relapse in HCV genotype 1 infected CHC patients treated with PEG-IFN-α and RBV.