Relationship between IL28B gene rs8099917 polymorphism and SVR in Turkish patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 1

• Published in: Clinics and research in hepatology and gastroenterology 2015-12, Vol.39 (6), p.711-717
• Main Authors: Akkız, Hikmet, Akgöllü, Ersin, Bekar, Aynur, Yıldırım, Selçuk, Sandıkçı, Macit, Ülger, Yakup, Yalınbaş Kaya, Berrin, Kuran, Sedef, Üsküdar, Oğuz
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Antiviral Agents - therapeutic use; Female; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Genotype; Hepacivirus - genetics; Hepatitis C, Chronic - virology; Humans; Interferon-alpha - therapeutic use; Interferons; Interleukins - genetics; Internal Medicine; Male; Middle Aged; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Retrospective Studies; Ribavirin - therapeutic use; Turkey
• ISSN: 2210-7401; 2210-741X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clinre.2015.02.008

Summary Background and objective The hepatitis C virus (HCV) which infects 3% of the world's population is a global challenge. Recently, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified that the IL28B gene rs8099917 polymorphism was associated with the response to the pegylated-interferon alpha/ribavirin (PegIFNα/RBV) combination therapy in patients infected with HCV genotype 1. IL28B gene rs8099917 polymorphism should be determined before beginning treatment of HCV-infected patients to predict an individual's response. The aims of this study were to analyze the correlation between IL28B gene rs8099917 (T/G) polymorphism and PegIFNα/RBV therapy outcome in the Turkish population. Methods Genotypes of the IL28B gene rs8099917 (T/G) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) were determined in 308 patients with HCV infection by using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assay. One group consisted of 148 patients with a sustained virological response (SVR), whereas the second group consisted of 160 nonresponders (non-SVR). Results Allele and genotype associations of IL28B gene rs8099917 polymorphism with a sustained virological response were observed in comparisons between the SVR and non-SVR groups ( P < 0.001). In addition, the characteristics of the subjects did not differ between these two groups except for age and fibrosis stage ( P < 0.05). Additionally, neither SVR nor rs80999917 genotypes were associated by HCV RNA levels. Conclusions In conclusion, the rs8099917 polymorphism was thus found strongly associated with a sustained virological response to therapy in Turkish patients infected with HCV genotype 1. Consequently, we suggest determining IL28B gene rs8099917 polymorphism of patients with HCV genotype 1 before onset of treatment.