Association of an IFN-γ variant with susceptibility to chronic hepatitis B by the enhancement of HBV DNA replication. (July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ben Selma, Walid; Laribi, Ahmed Baligh; Alibi, Sana; Boukadida, Jalel
• Is Part Of: Cytokine. Volume 143(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-07
• Subjects: HBV -- Hepatitis -- IFN-γ -- Polymorphism -- Susceptibility; Cytokines -- Periodicals; 571.844
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2021.155525
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1043-4666

Abstract

Abstract: Interferon gamma (IFN-γ) is a crucial cytokine in host immune response to hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. This study aimed to determine whether a functional polymorphism +874T/A in IFN-γ gene linked to high and low producer phenotypes [ IFN-γ (+874T high → A low )] may alter the outcomes of chronic HBV infection in Tunisian population. The +874T/A was analysed by ARMS-PCR method in the group of 200 patients chronically infected with HBV and 200 healthy controls. We observed that minor +874A allele, minor +874AA and +874TA genotypes were significantly more frequent in the chronic hepatitis B group in comparison to the control group [49 vs . 31%, P < 10 −4 ; 24 vs. 13%, P < 10 −4 ; 52 vs. 38%, P < 10 −4 ; respectively]. Besides, they were associated with susceptibility to hepatitis B infection [OR = 2.15, 3.87 and 2.84, respectively]. The minor +874A allele and +874AA genotype were statistically more representative in the sub-group of patients with high viral DNA load when compared with the sub-group of patients with low HBV DNA load [(57% vs. 43%, P = 0.003, OR = 1.79); (33% vs. 14%, P = 0.003, OR = 3.59), respectively]. Collectively, our study suggests an association between the IFN-γ +874T/A SNP and persistence of HBV by the enhancement of HBV DNA replication.