title: Association of cytokine gene polymorphisms and serum concentrations with the outcome of chronic hepatitis B.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present paper investigated possible correlations between the clinical presentation of hepatitis B and the TNF-α -308G/A, IFN-γ +874A/T, TGF-beta1 -509C/T, and IL-10 -1081A/G polymorphisms and associated serum levels of these cytokines.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-three hepatitis patients were selected and divided into two groups: A - inactive (n=30) and B - chronic hepatitis/cirrhosis (n=23). The control group consisted of 100 subjects who were positive for anti-HBc and anti-HBs. The serum concentrations of the cytokines were determined by immunoenzymatic assays. The polymorphisms of the cytokines genes were assessed by PCR and PCR-SSP.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean serum levels of IFN-γ of the control group were significantly higher than those of groups A and B, whereas the mean levels TGF-beta1 were significantly higher in groups A and B in comparison with the control. In the case of IL-10, the mean serum level recorded in the control group was significantly higher than that of group B. The TNF-α -308AG genotype was considerably more frequent in group B (43.3%) than the control (14.4%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Higher serum levels of IFN-γ and TGF-beta1 were associated with chronic hepatitis B, and lower serum levels of IL-10 were found in patients with the active disease. Furthermore the presence of allele A of the TNF-α -308 polymorphism suggest a risk of the progressive disease.
authors: Federal University of Para, Institute of Biological Sciences, Virus Laboratory, Belém, Pará, Brazil.
authors: Simone R S
authors: SR
authors: Conde
authors: Rosimar N M
authors: RN
authors: Feitosa
authors: Felipe Bonfim
authors: FB
authors: Freitas
authors: Renata B
authors: RB
authors: Hermes
authors: Samia
authors: S
authors: Demachki
authors: Marialva T F
authors: MT
authors: Araújo
authors: Manoel C P
authors: MC
authors: Soares
authors: Ricardo
authors: R
authors: Ishak
authors: Antonio C R
authors: AC
authors: Vallinoto
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D005787:Gene Frequency / Q000235:genetics; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; D007371:Interferon-gamma