Interleukin-6-174 Promoter Polymorphism and Susceptibility to Hepatitis B Virus Infection as a Risk Factor for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Iran.
BACKGROUND
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Cytokines play an important role in the regulation of immune responses and defense against viral infections. Human interleukin 6 (IL6) is a multifunctional cytokine that participates in these processes.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess the IL6-174 gene polymorphism in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection as compared with healthy controls in an Iranian population.


METHODS
Totals of 297 HBV patients and 368 control individuals were evaluated. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood and the SSP-PCR (sequence specific primer-polymerase chain reaction) method was applied for genotyping.


RESULTS
The frequencies of genotypes C/C, G/G and C/G in HBV cases were 4.7%, 34.3%, 60.9% and in controls were 12.8%, 39.7% and 47.6%, respectively. The frequencies of G and C allele in patients and controls were 78.1%, 21.9% and 67.4%, 32.6 % respectively. There was a significant difference in the frequencies of G/G genotype (CI=1.8-7.1, OR=3.47, P=0.00001) and G allele (CI=1.34-2.23, OR=1.72, P=0.0001) between HBV patients and the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that the IL6-174 C/G genotype and the G allele are strongly associated with susceptibility to HBV infection. Demographic information showed that most of the subjects were male (74.4%). According to high frequency of G/G genotype in male participants (63.1%) men probably are more susceptible to hepatitis than women.
Medical Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran E-mail : shahbazimajid@yahoo.co.uk.
Marzieh
M
Attar
Saleh Shahbazi
SS
Azar
Majid
M
Shahbazi
D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics*; D007492:Iran; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D011379:Prognosis; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015850:Interleukin-6