[Relationship of interleukin-18 gene promoter polymorphisms with chronic hepatitis B in Chinese Han population].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the polymorphisms of interleukin-18(IL-18) gene promoters, and to disclose whether such polymorphisms are associated with susceptibility to chronic hepatitis B in Chinese Han population.


METHODS
Using polymerase chain reaction with sequence specific primers method, the authors detected the single nucleotide polymorphisms of the promoter region of IL-18 gene at position -607C/A and -137G/C in 231 patients with chronic hepatitis B and 300 normal controls.


RESULTS
The frequency of CC genotype in IL-18 gene promoter region at position -607 was 0.22(66/300) in normal controls and 0.27(62/231) in patients. The frequency of CA genotype was 0.53(160/300) in normal controls and 0.50(116/231) in patients. The frequency of AA genotype was 0.25(74/300) in normal controls and 0.23(53/231) in patients. The frequencies of -137GG, GC and CC genotype were 0.67, 0.30 and 0.03 in normal controls respectively; whereas in chronic hepatitis B patients the frequencies were 0.79, 0.19 and 0.02. The genotype frequency of -137GG in chronic hepatitis B groups was significantly higher than that in normal controls(chi2: 8.55, P=0.003), but the frequencies of -607C/-137C and -607A/-137C haplotypes in chronic hepatitis B groups were significantly lower than those in normal controls. The association between genotype of IL-18 promoter region polymorphisms and hepatitis B virus(HBV) copies showed that the frequency of -607AA genotype in high HBV-DNA copies groups was lower than that in low HBV-DNA copies groups(chi2: 6.03, P=0.014).


CONCLUSIONS
The polymorphisms of the promoter region of IL-18 gene at position -607C/A and -137G/C are correlated with chronic hepatitis B in Chinese Han population. The people with -137C allele in the promoter region of IL-18 gene may be protected against HBV infection, and the IL-18 -607AA genotype may be linked to HBV-DNA copy.
Zhang
Ping-an
PA
Department of Laboratory Science, Affiliated Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China. zhangpingan@yahoo.com.cn
Wu
Jian-min
JM
Li
Yan
Y
Yang
Xiang-sheng
XS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001483:Base Sequence; D002648:Child; D002681:China; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D005838:Genotype; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
D020382:Interleukin-18