IL-10 promoter gene polymorphisms and sustained response to combination therapy in Taiwanese chronic hepatitis C patients.
OBJECTIVE
Host genetic factors may affect clinical outcomes of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection; however, the possible mechanisms remain largely unknown. The role of immunopathogenesis in chronic hepatitis C leads to extensive exploration of host immunity including inflammatory cytokines.


METHODS
We examined interleukin 10 (IL-10) promoter gene polymorphisms at positions -1082, -819, and -592 relative to transcription start site and studied their association with response to 24 weeks of pegylated interferon plus ribavirin treatment in 143 chronic hepatitis C patients, of whom 97 (67.8%) achieved a sustained virologic response (SVR). In addition, 134 healthy adults were used as controls.


RESULTS
Of chronic hepatitis C patients, 111 (77.6%) were genotype 1 infection, 32 (22.4%) were genotype 2 infection. Patients with sustained virologic response were younger and had higher pretreatment ALT levels than those without. No statistical difference was found between chronic hepatitis C patients who achieved SVR or not in terms of gender, HCV genotype, pretreatment HCV RNA levels, and severity of liver disease. The serum IL-10 levels were comparable between healthy controls and chronic hepatitis C patients as well as between HCV patients with and without SVR. The distribution of IL-10 promoter gene polymorphisms at positions -1082, -819, and -592 relative to transcription start site was comparable between HCV patients and healthy controls as well as HCV patients with and without SVR. A high frequency of ATA haplotype of common IL-10 promoter gene SNPs was found in both chronic hepatitis C patients (70.3%) and healthy controls (69.8%). However, ATA haplotype was not associated with SVR in chronic hepatitis C patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data fail to demonstrate the influence of IL-10 promoter gene polymorphisms on the response to combination therapy in Taiwanese chronic hepatitis C patients. The impact of genetic variations in IL-10 haplotype on the response to anti-HCV treatment among different ethnic populations deserves further examination.
Chuang
J Y
JY
Graduate Institute and Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, College of Health Care, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Yang
S S
SS
Lu
Y T
YT
Hsieh
Y Y
YY
Chen
C Y
CY
Chang
S C
SC
Chang
C S
CS
Yeh
H Z
HZ
Kao
J H
JH
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013624:Taiwan; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D000998:Antiviral Agents; C508609:IL10 protein, human; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016753:Interleukin-10; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a