ABSTRACT
Chronic infection with hepatitis B /C virus (HBV /HCV)is a widespread epidemic in China.The single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)in interleukin 28B (IL28B)gene have been associated with chronic HBV /HCV infection and response to interferon therapy.The biological functions and characteristics of IL28B are elaborated on,the associations between HCV infection and IL28B SNPs are commented on,and current reports of associations between HBV infection and IL28B SNPs are reviewed.The results support the associations between IL28B SNPs and disease progression of HCV infection or the curative effect of interferon therapy.However,contradictive results have been obtained in studies of associations between IL28B SNPs and disease progression of HBV infection,the incidence of liver cirrhosis and primary liver cancer after HBV infection,or the curative effect of interferon therapy,so further investigation is needed.