title: Association of transforming growth factor-beta 1 functional polymorphisms with natural clearance of hepatitis C virus.
abstract: Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta 1 suppresses the proliferation and cytotoxicity of natural killer (NK) cells, which play critical roles in resolving hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, especially during the acute phase. We examined 230 anti-HCV antibody-positive subjects for HCV RNA and the -509T/C genotype in the TGF-beta 1 gene promoter. The -509CC genotype and the -509C allele were significantly associated with higher HCV clearance rates (P=.01) and with lower transcriptional activity. The genetic effect remained significant even after adjustment for a history of transfusion. Low TGF- beta 1 producers might have less suppression of NK cells and be more likely to resolve HCV infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Epidemiology, Medical Research Institute, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomomi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Takafumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Mika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshimura
authors.forename: Song
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yixuan
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baba
authors.forename: Guijin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muramatsu
authors.forename: Sumio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kawata
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000483:Alleles; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D014766:Viremia / Q000097:blood / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral; C508960:TGFB1 protein, human; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1