title: The association between cytokine gene polymorphisms and the outcomes of chronic HBV infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether the polymorphisms in TNF-alphagene, IL-10 gene and IL-6 gene were associated with the outcomes of chronic HBV infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  The genotypes at the position -238 and -308 of TNF-alphagene, -1082, -819 and -592 of IL-10 gene, -174 of IL-6 gene in the promoter region were detected in 62 chronic hepatitis B patients, 60 asymptomatic carriers and 63 heath controls by polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific primer assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The frequency of G/G genotype at the position -238 in the promoter region of TNF-alphagene increased significantly in hepatitis B patients, in comparison with that in controls (83.9% versus 66.7%, P<0.05), whereas the frequency of G/A genotype at the same position decreased significantly in hepatitis B patients comparing with that in controls (16.1% versus 33.3%, P<0.05). Between chronic hepatitis B patients, asymptomatic carriers and heath controls, the genotypes frequency at the position -308 of TNF-alphagene, -1082, -819 and -592 of IL-10 gene, -174 of IL-6 gene in the promoter region showed no significant differences (P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of G/A genotype at the position -238 may contribute to virus elimination, whereas the presence of G/G genotype at the position -238 may lead to virus persistent infection. There were no association between IL-10 gene and IL-6 gene polymorphisms and chronic HBV infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhi-Xin
authors.forename: Zhang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li-Juan
authors.forename: Pan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xiao-Zhong