title: Cannabinoid receptor 2-63 QQ variant is associated with persistently normal aminotransferase serum levels in chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate in anti-HCV-positive patients the clinical impact of the rs35761398 variant of the CNR2 gene leading to the substitution of Gln (Q) of codon 63 of the cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2) with Arg (R).
  
  
  METHODS
  253 consecutive anti-HCV-/HCV-RNA-positive patients were enrolled, of whom 53 were HCV carriers with persistently normal ALT (PNALT group) and 200 had a history of steadily abnormal serum ALT values (abnormal ALT group). All patients were naive for antiviral therapy and were screened for the CNR2 rs35761398 polymorphism by a TaqMan assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjects in the PNALT group, compared with those in the abnormal ALT group were older (58.5±12 vs. 50.7±12.4 years, p = 0.001), more frequently female (66% vs. 42%, p = 0.003), with lower body mass index (BMI) (24.5±3.1 vs. 26.6±4.6, p = 0.003), and more frequently with HCV genotype 2 (43.1% vs 17.7%, p = 0.0002) and CB2-63 QQ variant (34% vs. 11%, p = 0.0001). Considering all 253 patients, no difference in the demographic, biochemical, or virological data was observed between patients in the different CB2-63 variants. The logistic regression analysis identified CB2-63 QQ, HCV genotype 2, older age and lower BMI as independent predictors of PNALT (p<0.00001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CB2-63 QQ variant in HCV patients was independently associated with the PNALT status.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Coppola
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine and Hepatology, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zampino
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine and Surgery, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sagnelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bellini
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine and Hepatology, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marrone
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine and Surgery, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stanzione
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicolina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Capoluongo
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine and Hepatology, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boemio
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Carmine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Minichini
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine and Hepatology, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi Elio
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Adinolfi
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Sabatino
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maione
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuele Miraglia
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Del Giudice
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Evangelista
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sagnelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rossi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D043885:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2 / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C588309:CNR2 protein, human; D043885:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2; D000410:Alanine Transaminase