title: IL-21R gene polymorphisms and serum IL-21 levels predict virological response to interferon-based therapy in Asian chronic hepatitis C patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  IL-21R polymorphisms have been identified as potential predictors of virological outcomes in Western chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients receiving interferon-based treatment. We aimed to examine the associations of IL-21R genotypes and serum IL-21 levels with virological responses to interferon-based treatment in Asian CHC patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Genomic and clinical data were collected from 178 consecutive Taiwanese HCV genotype 1 patients who received interferon-based therapy and 72 non-HCV healthy subjects. Among them, serum IL-21 levels, IL-21R and IL-28B genotypes were determined in 124 CHC patients and healthy controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among patients with IL28B rs8099917 non-TT genotypes, patients with IL-21R rs3093390 CC genotype had a higher sustained virological response rate than those with non-CC genotypes (CC versus non-CC 14/24 versus 0/4; P = 0.031). Compared with non-HCV controls, CHC patients had higher serum IL-21 levels (mean ± sd HCV versus non-HCV 377.8 ± 780.9 versus 70.5 ± 33.2 pg/ml; P = 0.001). Patients with sustained virological response had higher pretreatment serum IL-21 levels than those without (adjusted OR 0.23, 95% CI 0.07, 0.80; P = 0.021).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CHC patients have higher serum IL-21 levels than healthy adults. Higher pretreatment serum IL-21 levels and IL-21R polymorphisms may serve as potential factors predictive of treatment outcomes in CHC patients with interferon-based therapy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Taipei Branch, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ching-Sheng
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Shih-Jer
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Wei-Liang
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chi-Ling
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chun-Jen
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Pei-Jer
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ding-Shinn
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jia-Horng
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007372:Interferons; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011379:Prognosis; D053655:Receptors, Interleukin-21 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013624:Taiwan; D019562:Viral Load / Q000187:drug effects; D000098546:Interleukin-21; D000095022:Interferon Lambda
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D007372:Interferons; D007378:Interleukins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D053655:Receptors, Interleukin-21; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000098546:Interleukin-21; C000624353:interferon-lambda, human; D000095022:Interferon Lambda; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a