title: Association of BAFF -871C/T Promoter Polymorphism with Hepatitis C-Related Mixed Cryoglobulinemia in a Cohort of Egyptian Patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatitis C infection is a major health problem worldwide, especially in Egypt. The high prevalence of mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC) in hepatitis C patients leads to the assumption that there is a direct link between hepatitis C virus (HCV) and cryoglobulinemia. Host genetic factors could be a contributing factor. B cell-activating factor (BAFF) is a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family member, which has an essential role in B lymphocyte development and survival. The aim of the present work was to study the possible association between the BAFF -871C/T promoter polymorphism and HCV-related MC in a cohort of Egyptian patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted in 120 HCV patients classified into two groups: group I (60 HCV patients with MC) and group II (60 HCV patients without MC), with 60 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects. BAFF -871C/T genotyping was performed in all subjects by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of the BAFF -871TT genotype was significantly increased in HCV patients compared with the control group (P=0.036). The BAFF TT genotype was also significantly more prevalent in group I (HCV-MC patients) than in group II (HCV patients without MC) [P<0.001].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A significant association was found between the BAFF -871C/T promoter polymorphism and MC, which may indicate that BAFF could be a potential therapeutic target in HCV-MC.
authors: Clinical Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt, monawagdy16@yahoo.com.
authors: Mona Wagdy
authors: MW
authors: Ayad
authors: Amany A
authors: AA
authors: Elbanna
authors: Dalia A
authors: DA
authors: Elneily
authors: Amany S
authors: AS
authors: Sakr
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003449:Cryoglobulinemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D004534:Egypt; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology; D006529:Hepatomegaly / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D013163:Splenomegaly / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor; C505719:TNFSF13B protein, human