Search

Background and Objectives : A polymorphism in the promoter region of the IL-6 gene would influence the level of IL-6 expression in patients with HCV, resulting in a pro-inflammatory response. Few studies have shown the association between -174G>C (rs1800795) and -1363G>T (rs2069827) polymorphisms and HCV infection, and their results have been contradictory. There are no data published in our population to study such an IL-6 stimulus against HCV infection and its impact on RNA secondary structure. Therefore, we isolated human subjects from the province of Punjab, Pakistan. The objective was to screen for IL-6 gene promoter polymorphisms -174G/C and -1363G/T and those correlated with serum concentrations of IL-6 in patients with HCV and compared with a control. Materials and Methods : In conventional PCR, measurement of serum IL-6 by CLIA and statistical analysis were performed to observe the genotype association studies. By integrating bioinformatics and computational tools, our study aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of how variations in the promoter region of IL-6 may have functional implications on gene expression. Results : The -174G>C and -1363G>T genotypes in the promoter region of patients with HCV were in strong allelic association (Δ = 0.97, p < 0.001). Interestingly, the bioinformatics analysis was well aligned with our experimental data. Conclusions : Based on the data, it can be inferred that IL-6 gene promoter polymorphisms are important in the dysregulation of IL-6 levels in patients with HCV.

Although increased response rates concomitant in hepatitis C virus but relapse after treatment is threatened. Therefore, it is terrible requirement to evaluate the response of Pegylated interferon and direct acting antivirals in Punjab Pakistan. The study was conducted to find the rate of recurrence of HCV infection after treatment with Pegylated Interferon and Direct Acting Antivirals in Punjab Pakistan. This study was conducted at Department of Pathology, Nawaz Sharif Medical College Gujrat, while treatment effects monitored in different Government and Private Hospitals of Punjab, Pakistan. Total 973 patients who administered the recommended dose and divided in two groups (i) Interferon based therapy (ii) direct acting antivirals (DAAs).Other parameters like ALT and viral load studied. The rate of recurrence was higher in female infected with genotype 2b and in male with mixed genotype 3a/2b after six month of antiviral therapy. Genotype 3a showed significant response to therapy after three month. 32 among 374 (8.5%) were positive after 24 weeks of treatment with interferon, 29 (7.7%) patients have same genotype while 3 patients were re-infected with different HCV strains. With DAAs, only 27 (4.8%) patients were positive among 558 after 2 weeks and one patient re-infected with different genotype. Early and sustained virological response noted in DAAs. ALT and viral load decreased faster with DAAs that not achieved after 4 weeks with pegylated interferon. Sustained virological response appears in DAAs and recurrence rate is high in interferon therapy compared to DAAs. Therefore, reinfection has implications for correct treatment efficiency and to select strategies for retreatment cases.