Association between genetic polymorphisms of interleukin-12 p40 3' untranslated region and hepatitis C virus infection / 中华传染病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the association between single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of interleukin-12 (IL-12) p40 3'untranslated region rs3212227 site and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Methods Patients with hepatitis C (n=127) were genotyped and analyzed for the SNP of IL-12 p40 rs3212227 using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and DNA sequencing. The serum HCV RNA levels of patients with hepatitis C were detected using real time fluorescence quantitative-polymerase chain reaction (FQPCR). Inter-group comparisons of genotype and allele frequency were analyzed using chi-square test.Results In patients with hepatitis C, the frequencies of AA, AC and CC genotypes of IL-12 p40 rs3212227 site were 34. 6% ,40. 9% and 24. 4% , respectively,and the frequencies of allele A, C of IL12 p40 rs3212227 site were 55.1% and 44. 9%, respectively. The frequency of rs3212227 C allele in patients with HCV RNA ≥2. 0× 106 copy/mL was higher than that in patients with HCV RNA <2. 0 ×106 copy/mL (χ2 =7. 367, P = 0. 007). The frequency of rs3212227 C allele in responders to interferon (IFN) therapy was lower than that in patients with nonresponse to IFN therapy (χ2 =4. 942,P=0. 026). Conclusions The SNP of rs3212227 is correlated with HCV infection. The carriers with C allele may be susceptible to HCV infection, while resistant to IFN therapy.