IL28B rs12979860 polymorphism influences serum TNFalpha levels in chronic hepatitis C

摘要

Genomewide association studies have recently identified genetic variants near the interleukin-28B (IL28B) gene (rsl 2979860 and rs8099917 loci), encoding for interferon (IFN)-A3, as strong predictors of spontaneous and interferon-treatment induced clearance of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection [1,2]. The association is more marked in patients infected by viral genotype 1 (Gl) and G4 [2]. The mechanism is debated [2], but IL28B influences the pattern of activation of the innate immune system against HCV, as determined by the expression of interferon stimulated genes [3]. However, no data are available on the effect of IL28B genotype on tumour necrosis factor-a (TNFa), a proinflammatory cytokine deeply entangled in the immunological response towards HCV and in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) pathogenesis [4].