Relation of IL28B gene polymorphism with biochemical and histological features in hepatitis C virus-induced liver disease.
OBJECTIVE
Polymorphism at the IL28B gene may modify the course of hepatitis C virus (HCV) chronic infection. Our aim was to study the influence of IL28B rs12979860 gene polymorphism on the biochemistry and pathology of HCV-induced disease in the clinical course from mild chronic hepatitis C to hepatocellular carcinoma.


METHODS
We have determined the rs12979860 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) upstream IL28B gene in two groups of patients with HCV-induced chronic liver disease: 1) 268 patients (159 men) with biopsy-proven chronic hepatitis C, to analyse its relation with biochemical, virological and histological features; and 2) 134 patients (97 men) with HCV-related hepatocellular carcinoma. The distribution of the analysed SNP in hepatocellular carcinoma patients was compared with that found in untreated chronic hepatitis C patients. All patients were white and most were Spaniards.


RESULTS
In multivariate analysis ALT values were higher (P = 0.001) and GGT values were lower (P<0.001) in chronic hepatitis C patients homozygotes for the major rs12979860C allele as compared with carriers of the mutated rs12979860T allele. Steatosis was more frequent (Odds ratio = 1.764, 95% C.I. 1.053-2.955) and severe (P = 0.026) in carriers of the rs12979860T allele. No relation was found between the analysed SNP and METAVIR scores for necroinflammation and fibrosis, and there were no differences in the distribution of the analysed SNP between hepatocellular carcinoma and untreated chronic hepatitis C patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The IL28B rs12979860 polymorphism correlates with the biochemical activity and the presence and severity of liver steatosis in chronic hepatitis C.
Department of Pharmacology, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain.
José A
JA
Agúndez
Elena
E
García-Martin
María L
ML
Maestro
Francisca
F
Cuenca
Carmen
C
Martínez
Luis
L
Ortega
Miguel
M
Carballo
Marta
M
Vidaurreta
Marta
M
Agreda
Gabriela
G
Díaz-Zelaya
Avelina
A
Suárez
Manuel
M
Díaz-Rubio
José M
JM
Ladero
D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons; D007378:Interleukins / Q000235:genetics*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D000095022:Interferon Lambda
D007372:Interferons; D007378:Interleukins; C000624353:interferon-lambda, human; D000095022:Interferon Lambda