title: Role of IL28-B Polymorphism (rs12979860) on Sustained Virological Response to Pegylated Interferon/Ribavirin in Iranian Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The current medical treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is pegylated interferon plus ribavirin, but just 50% of genotype 1 HCV patients and about 80% of HCV genotype 3 patients are treated completely. Recently, the rs12979860 C/T polymorphism, which is located 3 kb upstream of the IL28b gene that codes IFNλ3, shows a powerful association in response to the treatment in HCV patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between IL28b single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and treatment outcomes among chronic HCV patients in Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study, 108 blood samples were collected from chronic patients in Iran; 50 unrelated healthy subject samples were also collected. Genomic DNA was extracted, and rs12979860 SNP was done by PCR-RFLP. Finally, products were detected on 12% polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The analysis of data for C/T SNP showed that the CC genotype is more common in the control group than in the group of patients. In contrast, the frequency of TT as a mutant genotype is more frequent in patients than in uninfected people. In addition, results showed a statistically significant relationship between CC, CT, and TT genotypes in sensitive and resistant groups (P value: < 0.001, Or: 0.003, CI: 0-0.047). This relationship was also examined in terms of allele frequency, to determine whether the possibility of resistance to treatment in patients with T allele is more than in patients who carry C allele (P value: < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results showed a significant effect between rs12979860 SNP and sustained virological response (SVR) rate in Iranian patients with chronic HCV. To decrease the cost of long treatments and to prevent severe side effects, determining this polymorphism at the beginning of treatment can be very helpful for patients and physicians.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatitis and AIDS, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, IR Iran; Genetics Department, Zanjan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Zanjan, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mahtab
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Daneshvar
authors.affiliation: Iranian Liver Charity, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mehri
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nikbin
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Solmaz
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Talebi
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatitis and AIDS, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Foozieh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Javadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatitis and AIDS, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Aghasadeghi
authors.affiliation: Genetics Department, Zanjan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Zanjan, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Sanaz
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mahmazi
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatitis and AIDS, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Mehdi
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Sadat
keywords: , Interleukin 28B; Hepatitis C Virus; Iran; Sustained Virological Responses; rs12979860