title: Role of IL-18 Gene Promoter Polymorphisms, Serum IL-18 Levels, and Risk of Hepatitis B Virus-related Liver Disease in the Guangxi Zhuang Population: a Retrospective Case-Control Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between IL-18 gene polymorphisms and HBV-related diseases and whether these polymorphisms influence its expression in the Guangxi Zhuang population.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 129 chronic HBV infected (CHB) patients, 86 HBV-related liver cirrhosis (LC) patients and 160 healthy controls in our study. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism methods were used to detect IL-18 gene -607C/A, -137G/C polymorphisms, and an ELISA kit was employed to determine serum IL-18 levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No correlation was found between the -607C/A polymorphism and risk of HBV-related disease. For the -137G/C polymorphism, the GC genotype and C allele were associated with a significantly lower risk of CHB (95%CI: 0.32-0.95, p=0.034 and 95%CI: 0.35-0.91, p=0.018) and HBV-related LC (95%CI: 0.24-0.89, p=0.022 and 95%CI: 0.28-0.90, p=0.021). A similar decreased risk was also found with the A-607C-137 haplotype. With respect to IL-18 expression, it was significantly lower in both patient groups, but no association was noted between the two polymorphisms in the IL-18 gene and its expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study indicated that the -137C allele in the IL-18 gene may be a protective factor for HBV-related disease, and serum IL-18 level may be inversely associated with CHB and HBV-related LC.
authors: Department of Clinical Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China E-mail : lis8858@126.com; qinxue919@126.com.
authors: Yu
authors: Y
authors: Lu
authors: Jin-Gui
authors: JG
authors: Bao
authors: Yan
authors: Y
authors: Deng
authors: Cheng-Zhi
authors: CZ
authors: Rong
authors: Yan-Qiong
authors: YQ
authors: Liu
authors: Xiu-Li
authors: XL
authors: Huang
authors: Liu-Ying
authors: LY
authors: Song
authors: Shan
authors: S
authors: Li
authors: Xue
authors: X
authors: Qin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006239:Haplotypes; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D011379:Prognosis; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D020382:Interleukin-18