RESUMEN
The impact of genetic changes like Single nucleotide polymorphisms on expression rate and function of cytokine is under study. The aim of the present study was to determine TNF-alpha cytokine gene polymorphism -308 G/A association with the susceptibility to hepatitis C [HCV] chronic infection. In this case-control study, 152 HCV infected patients and 164 healthy controls were studied. Genotyping was carried out by amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction [ARMS-PCR] and the distribution of the TNF-alpha Gene -308 G/A polymorphism was compared in these groups. Tetra-primer ARMS-PCR employs two pairs of primers to amplify two alleles in one PCR reaction. The frequency of the TNF-alpha gene polymorphism at position -308 in HCV patients was GG [88.8%], GA [11.2%], AA [0%] and in healthy controls was GG [75%], GA [24%], AA [0%] [OR=2.626, 95%CI=1.419-4.860, P=0.002]. There was a significant difference in genotype or allele frequency between HCV patients and control group [P<0.05]. Present study showed an association between TNF-alpha promoter polymorphism [-308] and hepatitis C in an Iranian population