title: Association between IFN-γ genetic polymorphisms and susceptibility to hepatitis B virus infection: A meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has become a global health burden because of its contagious mode of transmission and the resultant long-term liver damage.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate how the polymorphisms of the IFN-γ gene, particularly the IFN-γ +874T/A (rs2430561) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), influence susceptibility to HBV infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Relevant articles were identified by a comprehensive literature search covering the following computerised bibliographic databases. Eleven independent case-control studies were ultimately selected for the current meta-analysis, comprising a total of 1527 HBV cases and 1467 healthy subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results in the current meta-analysis showed that carriers of the IFN-γ A allele were more likely to develop HBV infection than those without in all five genetic models (all p < 0.05). According to the ethnicity-based sub-group analysis, a significant difference of the IFN-γ rs2430561 T > A polymorphism was detected associated with the increased risk of HBV infection in Asians and European-derived populations in the majority of the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results implicate a possible relationship between the IFN-γ rs2430561 T > A polymorphism and the risk of HBV infection. Therefore, IFN-γ genetic polymorphisms might be important in determining an individual's susceptibility to HBV infection.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Infectious Diseases , Linyi People's Hospital , Linyi , PR China.
authors.forename: Yongli
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: a Department of Infectious Diseases , Linyi People's Hospital , Linyi , PR China.
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: a Department of Infectious Diseases , Linyi People's Hospital , Linyi , PR China.
authors.forename: Lanrong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: a Department of Infectious Diseases , Linyi People's Hospital , Linyi , PR China.
authors.forename: Donghui
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D018740:Genetic Heterogeneity; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000235:genetics*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D017594:Publication Bias; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: C573415:IFNG protein, human; D007371:Interferon-gamma
keywords: HBV infection; IFN-γ; genetic polymorphism; meta-analysis