Association between Interleukin-28B Genetic Variants and Hepatitis C.

Background and purpose: Host genetic, environmental factors' and factors associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) play critical roles in development of the hepatitis. This study was performed to investigate the association between Interleukin-28B (IL-28B) genetic variants and chronic hepatitis C. Materials and methods: This case-control study was conducted in 133 HCV-RNA positive patients attending to methadone treatment clinics, hemophilia center, thalassemia center and three dialysis center in Mazandaran province, Iran, during 2010-2011. In addition, 173 HCV negative subjects were recruited as the controls. The two groups were matched for age, sex and geographic region. The IL-28B genotype at polymorphic site rs12979860 was determined by Tetra-ARMS-PCR method. Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed using Student t and Chi square tests, respectively. Results: The mean age of patients with HCV (96 male, 27 female) was 36.38 ± 12.49 years. The control group comprised 107 males and 66 females with the mean age of 38.27 ± 11.27 years. The distribution of IL-28B genotypes did not differ between two groups (P= 0.008). On the other hand, the frequency of C/C, C/T and T/T genotypes were 41.4, 41.6 and 17.3% in the pathents group and 42.5, 40.6, and 16.9% in the control group, respectively. The frequency of C and T alleles was not significantly different between the two groups (P= 0.84). Conclusion: No significant difference was observed in the frequency of the rs12979860 polymorphism in upstream of IL-28B among HCV patients and control groups. According to the proven role of C allele in association with HCV treatment response, it is assumed that genetic differences in IL-28B or IFN-? could predict HCV treatment outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]