Polymorphisms in the promoter region of the angiotensinogen gene are associated with liver cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B.
OBJECTIVE
It is known that the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) regulates fibrosis. Polymorphisms in the genes of the RAS may contribute to the outcome of liver cirrhosis. Angiotensinogen (AGT), mainly produced in the liver, is the substrate of renin. The aim of this study was to determine whether polymorphisms in the promoter region of the AGT gene are associated with liver cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B.


METHODS
Restriction fragment length polymorphism PCR was used to study polymorphisms in the promoter region of the AGT gene in patients with liver cirrhosis and in a control population. Four polymorphisms were assayed: G-217A, G-152A, A-20C and A-6G.


RESULTS
A statistically significant relationship was seen between polymorphisms of the AGT core promoter region and liver cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B (A-20C, P = 0.007; A-6G, P = 0.042). However, the distributions of the AGT-217 and AGT-152 genotypes were not significantly different from the control population (P = 0.615 and P = 0.170, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Polymorphisms of the core promoter region of the AGT gene (AGT-20 and AGT-6) were associated with liver cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B.
Xiao
Fan
F
The Infectious Diseases Institute, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Beijing, China.
Wei
Hongshan
H
Song
Shujing
S
Li
Guoli
G
Song
Chuan
C
D000483:Alleles; D000808:Angiotensinogen / Q000235:genetics*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic
D000808:Angiotensinogen