Association of IL-28B, TBX21 gene polymorphisms and predictors of virological response for chronic hepatitis C

Arch Virol. 2018 May;163(5):1253-1262. doi: 10.1007/s00705-018-3750-9. Epub 2018 Feb 5.

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major cause of chronic liver disease. The outcomes of both spontaneous HCV clearance and response to therapy depend on both viral and host factors. To investigate the influence of polymorphisms of IL-28B rs12979860 and TBX21 rs17250932, rs4794067 as well as viral factors (HCV genotype, F protein) on the outcome of HCV infection, we genotyped 565 patients with chronic HCV infection, 191 patients spontaneously resolved from HCV infection, 359 healthy controls and 383 treatment-naïve CHC patients with pegylated interferon-α and ribavirin (PEG IFN-α/RBV). Results showed that TBX21 rs4794067 variant genotypes significantly correlated with increased risk of HCV chronic infection (dominant model: OR = 5.690, 95% CI = 2.024-16.000) and susceptibility (dominant model: OR = 5.658, 95% CI = 2.514-12.735). We also found that the rs12979860, rs2227982 and rs36084323 polymorphisms showed no significant associations with susceptibility or spontaneous clearance of HCV in the anti-F antibody subgroup; however, the anti-F antibody positive subgroup might show an increased risk of N-SVR (all P < 0.001). Our results demonstrate that variant factors in both the host and pathogen are commonly important for HCV clearance. In addition rs4794067 and F protein status may be strong predictive markers in the Chinese population.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
  • Asian People / genetics
  • China
  • Disease Susceptibility
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Genotype
  • Hepacivirus / genetics
  • Hepacivirus / immunology
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / drug therapy
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / ethnology
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / genetics*
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / virology*
  • Humans
  • Interferon-alpha / therapeutic use
  • Interferons
  • Interleukins / genetics*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Polyethylene Glycols / therapeutic use
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide*
  • Ribavirin / therapeutic use
  • Sustained Virologic Response
  • T-Box Domain Proteins / genetics*
  • Viral Core Proteins / immunology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Antiviral Agents
  • interferon-lambda, human
  • Interferon-alpha
  • Interleukins
  • T-Box Domain Proteins
  • T-box transcription factor TBX21
  • Viral Core Proteins
  • hepatitis C protein F, Hepatitis C virus
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Ribavirin
  • Interferons