title: Association of interleukin-18 gene polymorphisms with hepatitis B virus clearance.
abstract: The outcome of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection can be affected by host immune factors. Interleukin-18 (IL-18) was originally discovered as an interferon-gamma-inducing factor and plays a critical role in immune response. We assessed the association between the clearance of HBV infection and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the IL-18 gene. Between March 2002 and December 2004, a total of 1,050 Korean subjects were enrolled in the study and divided into two groups: (1) the HBV spontaneous recovery group (n = 320) and (2) the chronic HBV carrier group (n = 730). We analyzed SNPs at four polymorphic sites in the IL-18 gene at positions -667G>T, -148G>C, +8925C>G, and +13925A>C. We observed that the subjects bearing the IL-18 -148C allele [odds ratio (OR), 0.25; confidence interval (CI), 0.09-0.68; P = 0.01], the +8925G allele (OR, 0.36; CI, 0.15-0.88; P = 0.02), and the +13925C allele (OR, 0.25; CI, 0.13-0.82; P = 0.01) were significantly associated with HBV clearance in a recessive model. This study indicates that the -148C, +8925G, and +13925C alleles of the IL-18 gene are likely associated with HBV clearance in a Korean population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Genomic Research Center for Gastroenterology, Ajou University School of Medicine, San-5 Wonchon-Dong, Youngtong-ku, Suwon, 442-721, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Youn
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Cheong
authors.forename: Sung Won
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Bermseok
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Kuchan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kimm
authors.forename: Kee Myung
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sung Jae
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Jung A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Byung Lae
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Hyun Sub
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Cheong
authors.forename: Hyoung Doo
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Bo Young
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Jin Hong
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D002353:Carrier State / Q000276:immunology; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D005808:Genes, Recessive; D005838:Genotype; D006239:Haplotypes / Q000235:genetics; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D055261:Immunogenetic Phenomena; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000235:genetics*; D015810:Linkage Disequilibrium / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D056910:Republic of Korea; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D020382:Interleukin-18