Polymorphisms near interleukin 28B gene are not associated with hepatitis B virus clearance, hepatitis B e antigen clearance and hepatocellular carcinoma occurrence.
BACKGROUND
Polymorphisms near the IL28B gene have been proposed to be strongly associated with treatment response and the rate of spontaneous clearance of hepatitis C virus infection, and treatment response of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. In this study, we aimed to determine whether these polymorphisms could affect natural courses of HBV infection.


METHODS
Genetic variations were identified through direct DNA sequencing using TaqMan assay in 1,439 patients with past or present HBV infection. Subjects included 404 spontaneously recovered patients, 313 chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients, 305 liver cirrhosis (LC) patients and 417 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. Three polymorphisms near the IL28B gene, rs8099917T>G, rs12979860C>T and rs12980275A>G, were identified. Associations between these polymorphisms and HBV clearance, hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) clearance as well as HCC occurrence among patients were analyzed using logistic regression analyses adjusted for age and gender.


RESULTS
There were no significant associations between these polymorphisms and the HBV clearance both in CHB and LC groups. Similarly, these polymorphisms showed no significant associations with HBeAg clearance and the occurrence of HCC either.


CONCLUSIONS
No significant association was identified between polymorphisms near the IL28B gene and the natural courses of chronic HBV infection, including the HBV clearance and HCC occurrence.
Department of Internal Medicine and Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Dong Hyeon
DH
Lee
Yuri
Y
Cho
Ji Yeon
JY
Seo
Jung Hee
JH
Kwon
Eun Ju
EJ
Cho
Eun Sun
ES
Jang
Min-Sun
MS
Kwak
Jae Youn
JY
Cheong
Sung Won
SW
Cho
Jeong-Hoon
JH
Lee
Su Jong
SJ
Yu
Jung-Hwan
JH
Yoon
Hyo-Suk
HS
Lee
Chung Yong
CY
Kim
Hyoung Doo
HD
Shin
Yoon Jun
YJ
Kim
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006239:Haplotypes; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons; D007378:Interleukins / Q000235:genetics*; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D055815:Young Adult; D000095022:Interferon Lambda
D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D007372:Interferons; D007378:Interleukins; C000624353:interferon-lambda, human; D000095022:Interferon Lambda