title: Relevance of interleukin-10RB to chronic hepatitis B virus infection and biological activities of interferon-λ and interleukin-22.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The association of a single nucleotide polymorphism of interleukin (IL)-10RB codon 47 with the chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has been reported in two ethnic populations with different results, but not in a Korean population. IL-10RB is a subunit of receptor complexes for interferon-lambda (IFN-λ) and IL-22, which have antiviral and hepatocyte-protective activity, respectively. This study examined the association of IL-10RB K47E with the outcomes of HBV infection in Korean subjects and the cellular response to these cytokines.
  
  
  METHODS
  Genotypes of IL-10RB and the outcomes of HBV infection were analyzed in 1,000 Korean patients. The effect of IFN-λ or IL-22 on HBV replication and cell viability was assessed in hepatoma cells expressing IL-10RB K47 or E47. The transcript level of IL-10RB was examined in Epstein Barr virus-transformed B cells and hepatoma cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  IL-10RB K47E was associated with chronic HBV infection but not with hepatoma in the Korean population. IL-10RB K47E was associated with the transcript level of IL-10RB in transformed B cells but not with the responses in hepatoma cells to IFN-λ or IL-22. HBV replication or 5-fluorouracil-induced cell death was suppressed by treatment of IFN-λ or IL-22 in an IL-10RB K47E-independent manner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IL-10RB K47E is related to chronic HBV infection in a Korean population, but not to cellular responsiveness to IFN-λ and IL-22.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Youngtongku Wonchondong San 5, Suwon, 442-749 The Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Okki
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Jae Youn
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Cheong
authors.forename: Ka Jung
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Jun
authors.forename: Soon Sun
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yong-Joon
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Chwae
authors.forename: Kyongmin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Sung Won
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Cho
keywords: Chronic hepatitis B; HBV replication; IFN-λ; IL-10R2; IL-22; Single nucleotide polymorphism