title: Toll-like receptor polymorphisms are not associated with liver cirrhosis in hepatitis B virus infected Korean patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hepatitis B virus (HBV) induces inflammatory signaling leading to progressive liver damage. Polymorphisms of the toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 (Arg677Trp, Arg753Gln) and TLR4 (Asp299Gly, Thr399Ile) genes, which are important components of innate immunity against viral infection, have recently been described. We evaluated the association between TLR2 and TLR4 polymorphisms and the development of liver cirrhosis in Koreans with chronic HBV infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study enrolled 456 Koreans with chronic HBV infection between December 2004 and October 2007; 242 with chronic hepatitis B (group I) and 214 with liver cirrhosis (group II). TLR2 and TLR4 polymorphisms were determined using direct sequencing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean age differed significantly between groups (group I, 34.8 +/- 11.4 years; group II 51.0 +/- 8.9 years; p < 0.001), whereas the proportion of males (80.2% vs. 73.4%, respectively; p = 0.085) and hepatitis B e antigen-positive patients (40.7% vs. 43.6%, respectively; p = 0.575) did not. The serum alanine aminotransferase level was significantly higher in group I (87.9 +/- 138.5 IU/L) than in group II (56.6 +/- 70.7 IU/L, p = 0.003). However, the TLR2 Arg677Trp and Arg753Gln and TLR4 Asp299Gly and Thr399Ile mutant alleles were not detected in any patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The TLR2 Arg677Trp, Arg753Gln and TLR4 Asp299Gly, Thr399Ile mutant alleles were not detected in any patient, suggesting that they are very rare in the Korean population. Our results do not permit any conclusion regarding their role in the development of liver cirrhosis.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Do Young
authors: DY
authors: Kim
authors: Jong Won
authors: JW
authors: Choi
authors: Hye Young
authors: HY
authors: Chang
authors: Seung Up
authors: SU
authors: Kim
authors: Hana
authors: H
authors: Park
authors: Yong Han
authors: YH
authors: Paik
authors: Ja Kyung
authors: JK
authors: Kim
authors: Sang Hoon
authors: SH
authors: Ahn
authors: Jun Yong
authors: JY
authors: Park
authors: Sook In
authors: SI
authors: Chung
authors: Kwan Sik
authors: KS
authors: Lee
authors: Kwang Hyub
authors: KH
authors: Han
authors: Chae Yoon
authors: CY
authors: Chon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D056910:Republic of Korea; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4