title: Relationship between the genetic variation in interleukin 28B and response to antiviral therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Genetic variations at the interleukin 28B (IL-28B) locus are important in predicting outcome following therapy for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The aim of this research was to evaluate the role of IL-28B single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) variations in Chinese patients undergoing pegylated interferon-α plus ribavirin (PEG-IFN-α/RBV) treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  To determine the effect of IL-28B variation on the response to HCV therapy, these variants were genotyped in a cohort of 220 patients who were chronically infected with HCV and received combined PEG-IFN-α/RBV therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proportions of rs12979860 CC, CT, and TT genotypes were 71.4%, 25.0%, and 3.6% respectively, in the sustained virological response (SVR) group; 15.8%, 60.5%, and 23.7% respectively, in the null virological response (NVR) group; and 38.1%, 52.4%, and 9.5% respectively, in the relapse (Rel) group (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that, compared to those having the CC genotype, CT heterozygotes had an increased risk of NVR and Rel (OR = 10.95, 95%CI = 4.12-29.11, P = 1.5×10(-7) and OR = 3.93, 95%CI = 1.86-8.32, P = 2.1×10(-4) respectively). The RNA quantification assay showed that patients with genotype CC exhibited much higher levels of IL-28 expression than those with genotype CT or TT (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The IL-28B SNP rs12979860 genotype was related to the effectiveness of HCV therapy: patients with the CC rs12979860 genotype had higher rates of SVR than those with the CT or TT genotype, and the CC genotype revealed a significantly higher level of IL-28 mRNA expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510630, China.
authors.forename: Jun-Qiang
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Xiao-Yan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Xiao-Hong
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Bing-Liang
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Dong-Ying
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Zhi-Liang
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Gen-Shu
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zhi-Xin
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005838:Genotype; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007372:Interferons; D007378:Interleukins / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000095022:Interferon Lambda
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D007372:Interferons; D007378:Interleukins; D012254:Ribavirin; C000624353:interferon-lambda, human; D000095022:Interferon Lambda