title: Association of polymorphisms in the interleukin-4 gene with response to hepatitis B vaccine and susceptibility to hepatitis B virus infection: a meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the associations between functional polymorphisms in the interleukin-4 (IL4) gene and individuals' responses to hepatitis B vaccine and their susceptibility to hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature search on articles published before December 1st, 2012 was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and China BioMedicine (CBM) databases. Crude odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Statistical analyses were performed using the STATA 12.0 software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight studies were eligible for inclusion in this meta-analysis, including five cross-sectional studies on individual's response to hepatitis B vaccine and three case-control studies on HBV infection risk. The meta-analysis results showed that the T allele of rs2243250, the T allele of rs2070874, and the C allele of rs2227284 in IL4 gene were associated with high responses to hepatitis B vaccine. Further subgroup analysis by ethnicity showed that there was a significant association between IL4 genetic polymorphisms and an individual's responses to hepatitis B vaccine among Asian populations, but similar association was not found among Caucasian populations. However, there was no evidence indicating a correlation between IL4 genetic polymorphism and susceptibility to HBV infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our current meta-analysis suggests that rs2243250, rs2070874 and rs2227284 polymorphisms in IL4 gene may play an important role in determining the response to hepatitis B vaccine, especially among Asian populations. However, further studies are still needed to evaluate the associations between IL4 genetic polymorphisms and HBV infection risk.
authors: Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning, Shenyang 110001, China. cmu1h_cw@126.com
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: Cui
authors: Cui-Ming
authors: CM
authors: Sun
authors: Bao-Cheng
authors: BC
authors: Deng
authors: Pei
authors: P
authors: Liu
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000235:genetics*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000235:genetics*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
chemical_list: D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D015847:Interleukin-4