title: Role of IL-4 gene polymorphisms in HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma in a Chinese population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Interleukin-4 (IL-4) is best known as an important mediator and modulator of immune and inflammatory responses. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a typical inflammation-related cancer, and genetic variations in the IL-4 gene may be associated with the risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related HCC. However, few studies have been conducted on their association.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To clarify the effects of IL-4 gene polymorphisms on the risk of HBV-related HCC, two common variants, -590C/T (rs2243250) and -33C/T (rs2070874), and their relationship with HBV-related disease risk were investigated in a Chinese population.
  
  
  METHODS
  IL-4 -590C/T and -33C/T polymorphisms were examined in 154 patients with HBV-related HCC, 62 patients with HBV-induced liver cirrhosis (LC), 129 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), and 94 healthy controls, using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method and DNA sequencing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, no significant differences were observed regarding the IL-4 -590C/T and -33C/T polymorphism genotypes, alleles, or haplotypes between the patient groups and the healthy controls. However, the CC genotypes of IL-4 -590C/T and -33C/T polymorphisms were observed to be significantly associated with CHB in subgroup analysis in males [CC versus TT (OR: 4.193, 95% CI: 1.094-16.071, P = 0.037; and OR: 3.438, 95% CI: 1.032-11.458, P = 0.044) and CC versus TT+CT (OR: 4.09, 95% CI: 1.08-15.49, P = 0.038; and OR: 3.43, 95% CI: 1.04-11.28, P = 0.042)].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that genetic variants in IL-4 -590C/T and -33C/T polymorphisms may be a risk factor for CHB in Chinese males but not for HBV-related LC or HCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, Guigang People's Hospital, Guigang, Guangxi, China.
authors.forename: Zhitong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
authors.forename: Qiliu
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
authors.forename: Liping
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
authors.forename: Xiaolian
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
authors.forename: Jiangyang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
authors.forename: Xue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D060005:Genotyping Techniques; D006239:Haplotypes; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000235:genetics*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
chemical_list: D015847:Interleukin-4