Polymorphisms in the IFNL3/IL28B gene and hepatitis C: From adults to children

SNPs of the IFNL favour spontaneous clearance of HCV infection in children

BACKGROUND

Both spontaneous and treatment-induced clearance of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in adults have been associated with genetic polymorphisms in the interferon-λ genes. The aim of the present study was to confirm the association between the rs12979860 and evaluate the association between the rs368234815 and the rs4803217 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the interferon-λ genes and the outcome of the infection in children.

METHODS

Alleles and genotypes frequencies of 32 children, who presented spontaneous clearance of the virus and 135 children, with viral persistence were compared with ethnically matched controls obtained from the 1000 Genomes Project and the International HapMap Project databases.

RESULTS

The frequencies of the C/C genotype of rs12979860, the TT/TT of the rs368234815 and the A/C of the rs4803217 were higher in the clearance group than in children with viral persistence (C/C versus T/T + C/T odds ratio (OR): 2.6; 90% confidence intervals (CI): 1.3-5; p = 0.01; TT/TT versus ΔG/TT + ΔG/ΔG OR: 2.8; 90% CI: 1.4-5.5; p = 0.01; and A/A versus A/C OR: 8.3; 90% CI: 1.5-45.9; p = 0.017, respectively) and with the ethnically matched controls.

CONCLUSIONS

The rs12979860, the rs368234815 and the rs4803217 SNPs are associated with spontaneous clearance of HCV in children.

IMPACT

Innate immune system response has a key role in the outcome of vertically acquired HCV infection in children. The rs12979860, the rs368234815 and the rs4803217 SNPs are associated with spontaneous clearance of HCV in children. Interferons-λ activate the Janus kinase-Stat pathway, which in turn induces several interferon-stimulated genes, leading to suppression of HCV replication both in vivo and in vitro.

Association of IL28B (IFNL3) rs12979860 mRNA levels, viral load, and liver function among HCV genotype 1a patients

AIM

The present study was designed to evaluate the correlation of interleukin 28B (IL28B, IFNL3) rs12979860 mRNA levels, viral load, and liver function among hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients genotype 1a.

BACKGROUND

HCV is considered essentially hepatotropic and is a major health problem around the world.

METHODS

This study included 100 HCV-infected patients with HCV genotype1a (G1a) and rs12979860 CC genotype. These patients were divided into two groups according to HCV treatment. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and HCV Load were measured and recorded for each patient. IL28B mRNA levels were determined using real-time polymerase chain reaction assay, and their correlation with clinical data were analyzed. STRING was applied to construct a network and identify interactions between IL28B (IFNL3) and its significant neighbor proteins.

RESULTS

The results revealed a significant relationship between the ALT as well as ALP levels with IL28B rs12979860 mRNA expression level in men, and also with age >50 years. In the treated group, AST level and HCV load had a significant relationship with IL28B mRNA expression level. The results showed that the level of ALP and AST decreased significantly with increased IL28B mRNA expression level in the treated and untreated group, respectively. STRING database showed that IL28B (IFNL3) interacted with ten important neighbor proteins with some of these proteins being involved in signal transduction pathway activating antiviral response.

CONCLUSION

This study indicated that rs12979860CC genotype could predict IL28B mRNA expression level in HCV-infected patients with G1a. Furthermore, IL28B mRNA expression level may serve as a useful marker for the development of G1a HCV-associated outcomes.

Impact of the Uridine⁻Cytidine Kinase Like-1 Protein and IL28B rs12979860 and rs8099917 SNPs on the Development of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Cirrhotic Chronic Hepatitis C Patients-A Pilot Study

Background and objectives: The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the major causative agent of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the western world. The efficacy of surveillance programs for early detection of HCC is not satisfactory: many tumors are diagnosed at the late, incurable stages. Therefore, there is a need in reliable prognostic markers for the proper follow-up of HCV-positive patients. The aim of the present study was to assess the prognostic value of the uridine⁻cytidine kinase-like protein 1 (UCKL-1), a putative oncoprotein, together with genetically determined polymorphisms in the interleukin 28B (IL28B) gene (rs12979860, rs8099917) in the development of HCC in HCV-positive cirrhotic patients. Materials and Methods: We included 32 HCV cirrhotic patients, 21 (65.6%) of whom had HCC. The expression of UCKL-1 was assessed in liver tissue sections, using immunohistochemistry. For IL28B rs12979860 and rs8099917 genotype analysis, the corresponding genomic regions were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with appropriate primers. Results: We have found that UCKL-1 expression was significantly increased in HCC (p = 0.003). The presence of rs8099917 TT single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) elevated the chances of HCC manifestation more than sevenfold (OR = 7.3, p = 0.0273). The presence of rs12979860 CC SNP also heightened HCC chances more than sevenfold (OR = 7.5, p = 0.0765). Moreover, in the HCC group, a combination of IL28B rs12979860 non-TT and rs8099917 TT genotypes was observed more often, compared with the non-HCC group. Other combinations of IL28B rs12979860 and rs8099917 SNIPs were associated with a reduced risk of HCC development, approximately at the same extent. Conclusions: The presence of IL28B rs8099917 TT and rs12979860 CC SNPs, but not the intensity of UCKL-1 expression, is strongly associated with increased chances of HCC development in HCV-positive cirrhotic patients.