Cytokine and apoptosis gene polymorphisms influence the outcome of hepatitis C virus infection.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is thought to be chronic and the factors leading to viral clearance or persistence are poorly understood. This study was undertaken to investigate the possibility of a significant relationship between the spontaneous clearance or the persistence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and cytokine and apoptosis gene polymorphisms in Tunisian patients on hemodialysis.

METHODS:

Polymorphisms of the genes IL-1 (-889 IL-1alpha, -511 and +3954 IL-1beta, IL-1Ra), IL-18 (-137 and -607), IL-12 (-1188) and Apo1/Fas (-670) were determined by PCR-RFLP, PCR-SSP and PCR-VNTR in 100 healthy blood donors and 100 patients infected with HCV and undergoing hemodialysis. The patients were classified into two groups: G1 consisted of 76 active chronic hepatitis patients (positive for HCV RNA) and G2 consisted of 24 hemodialysed patients who spontaneously eliminated the virus (negative for HCV RNA).

RESULTS:

The frequency of genotype association [-137GC/-607CA] IL-18 was higher in G2 (41.7%) than in G1 (15.8%) (P=0.008; OR=0.26; 95% CI, 0.10-0.73). We also found a higher frequency of the AA genotype of the Apo1/Fas gene in G2 (41.6%) than in G1 (17.5%) (P=0.026; OR=3.49; 95% CI, 1.13-10.69). Adjustment for known covariate factors (age, gender and genotype) confirmed these univariate findings and revealed that the genotype association GC-CA of the (-137 and -607) IL-18 gene and the AA genotype of the Apo1/Fas gene were associated with the clearance of HCV (P=0.041 and 0.017, respectively).

CONCLUSION:

The two genotypes GC-CA of the (-137 and -607) IL-18 polymorphism and the AA genotype of the Apo1/Fas gene influence the outcome of HCV infection in Tunisian patients on hemodialysis.

• Authors: Leila Ksiaa Cheikhrouhou, Imen Sfar, Hajer Aounallah-Skhiri, Houda Aouadi, Salwa Jendoubi-Ayed, Taieb Ben Abdallah, Khaled Ayed, Yousr Lakhoua-Gorgi
• Journal: Hepatobiliary & pancreatic diseases international : HBPD INT (Hepatobiliary Pancreat Dis Int) Vol. 10 Issue 3 Pg. 280-8 (Jun 2011) ISSN: 1499-3872 [Print] Singapore
• PMID: 21669572 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Cytokines
• FAS protein, human
• Interleukin-18
• RNA, Viral
• fas Receptor
• Interleukin-12

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Apoptosis (genetics)
• Case-Control Studies
• Chi-Square Distribution
• Cytokines (genetics)
• Female
• Gene Frequency
• Genotype
• Hepacivirus (genetics)
• Hepatitis C, Chronic (diagnosis, genetics, immunology, pathology)
• Humans
• Interleukin-12 (genetics)
• Interleukin-18 (genetics)
• Logistic Models
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Odds Ratio
• Phenotype
• Polymorphism, Genetic
• Prognosis
• RNA, Viral (blood)
• Renal Dialysis
• Retrospective Studies
• Time Factors
• Tunisia
• Viral Load
• fas Receptor (genetics)