title: Genotype CC of rs12979860 is providing protection against infection rather than assisting in treatment response for HCV genotype 3a infection.
abstract: Recent discovery of single-nucleotide polymorphisms located in the upstream region of interleukin-28B (IL28B) has shown association with interferon (IFN) treatment response especially in hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1-infected patients. Pakistan, being the country with second highest prevalence of HCV with predominantly 3a genotype infection, bears a significant disease burden. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of rs12979860 genotypes on treatment response in HCV-3a-infected patients. This study shows that the CC genotype is providing protection against infection to HCV. But once infected, the CC genotype patients show viral persistence following IFN therapy. The TT genotype is assisting the 3a patients in viral clearance after IFN treatment. To our knowledge, this is the first study showing rs12979860 genotype association with IFN response in Pakistani HCV-3a-infected patients.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical and Genetic Engineering, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Hashmi
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical and Genetic Engineering, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical and Genetic Engineering, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Riaz
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical and Genetic Engineering, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical and Genetic Engineering, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Siddiqi
authors.affiliation: Pakistan Academy of Sciences, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Shakoori
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical and Genetic Engineering, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mansoor
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007372:Interferons; D007378:Interleukins / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult; D000095022:Interferon Lambda
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D007372:Interferons; D007378:Interleukins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin; C000624353:interferon-lambda, human; D000095022:Interferon Lambda; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a