title: Polymorphism near the IL28B gene in Korean hepatitis C virus-infected patients treated with peg-interferon plus ribavirin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) near the IL28B gene have recently been described as predictors of antiviral therapy responses in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype-1.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the association between genetic variation near the IL28B gene and treatment outcome prediction in Korean patients receiving peg-interferon (PEG-IFN) plus ribavirin therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The allelic discrimination assay by Taqman real-time PCR was developed to determine genotypes of SNPs, rs12979860 and rs8099917, which were analyzed in 65 Korean patients with HCV genotype-1.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For rs12979860, the frequency of patients with sustained virological response (SVR) was 70.2% in those with the CC genotype and 25% in those with the CT genotype. Early virological response (EVR) in patients with the CC genotype (84.2%) was higher than in those with the CT genotype (25.0%). For rs8099917, patients with the TT genotype showed significantly higher in SVR and EVR than those with the TG/GG genotype (69.6% vs 33.3% and 82.1% vs 44.4%, respectively). With regards to the genotype frequency of the SNPs, the homozygous genotypes for rs12979860 (CC) or rs8099917 (TT) in Korean patients showed a significantly higher frequency as compared with other ethnicities; Caucasians, African-American, Hispanic, and Japanese.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results demonstrate that the genotypes rs12979860 CC and rs8099917 TT were more frequently observed in Korean patients compared to other ethnicities, and suggest that the genetic characteristics of patients may be prognostic factor that predicts antiviral response to PEG-IFN therapy for chronic hepatitis C.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine and WHO Collaborating Center on Viral Hepatitis, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 137-040 Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Kwangsoo
authors: K
authors: Lyoo
authors: Myeong Jun
authors: MJ
authors: Song
authors: Wonhee
authors: W
authors: Hur
authors: Jung Eun
authors: JE
authors: Choi
authors: Sung Woo
authors: SW
authors: Hong
authors: Chang Wook
authors: CW
authors: Kim
authors: Si Hyun
authors: SH
authors: Bae
authors: Jong Young
authors: JY
authors: Choi
authors: Sang Wook
authors: SW
authors: Choi
authors: Eui-Cheol
authors: EC
authors: Shin
authors: Seung Kew
authors: SK
authors: Yoon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D044466:Asian People; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007372:Interferons; D007378:Interleukins / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000095022:Interferon Lambda
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D007372:Interferons; D007378:Interleukins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin; C000624353:interferon-lambda, human; D000095022:Interferon Lambda; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a