Clearance of hepatitis C virus is not associated with single nucleotide polymorphisms in the IL-1, -6, or -10 genes.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) commonly causes a chronic infection, but a minority of patients are able to clear the virus and do not run the risk of developing HCV-induced organ damage. Genetic associations between immunoregulatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1, -6, and -10 with clinical features of HCV, including virus clearance, have been inconsistent. We determined cytokine genotypes in 606 patients who had serologic evidence of HCV exposure, 190 (18%) of whom were consistently negative for HCV RNA, indicating successful virus clearance. There was no significant difference in genotype frequencies between HCV clearance and nonclearance groups for IL-1B (-511 and +3954), IL-1A (+4845), IL-1RN (+2018), IL-6 (-174), or IL-10 (-1082). We conclude that these single nucleotide polymorphisms are unlikely to play an important, if any, role in determining the likelihood of clearing HCV infection.
Minton
Elizabeth J
EJ
Infection and Travel Medicine, St. James's University Hospital, Leeds, United Kingdom.
Smillie
David
D
Smith
Paula
P
Shipley
Suzanne
S
McKendrick
Michael W
MW
Gleeson
Dermot C
DC
Underwood
James C E
JC
Cannings
Christopher
C
Wilson
Anthony G
AG
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000235:genetics*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016753:Interleukin-10