https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1176-2727
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ABSTRACT
Background
Today there is increasing evidence concerning the association between individual genetic polymorphisms within proinflammatory cytokines and chronic hepatitis C (CHC) severity. It has been demonstrated that polymorphisms in some genes may significantly predict HCV infected patients’ susceptibility to developing liver cirrhosis or their responsiveness to the treatment.
Aim
We investigated the influence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in Interferon (IFN-γ) and Interferon Gamma-Inducible Protein 10 (IP-10) genes on cirrhosis risk in HCV-infected patients and their association with response to various direct-acting antiviral drugs (DAAs).
Methods
IFN-γ (+874T/A, +2109A/G) and IP-10 (−135G/A, −1447A/G) genotypes were determined in 175 CHC Egyptian HCV patients (69 liver cirrhotic and 106 non-cirrhotic patients) using either single-stranded polymorphism polymerase chain reaction (SSP-PCR) or Restriction fragment length-PCR (RFLP-PCR) methods.
Results
IFN-γ + 874 TA, IP-10 − 135AA, and IP-10 − 1447AA and IP-10 − 1447GG genotypes are increased in patients developing liver cirrhosis compared to non-cirrhotic ones. Although, no statistical significance in their distribution was demonstrated, indicating the lack of association between these SNPs and liver cirrhosis susceptibility in HCV-infected patients. Haplotypes analysis between different loci on all selected genes showed a significant increase in AGGA and TAGA and a significant decrease in TGGA haplotypes in cirrhotic patients. Genotype frequencies at loci −135 and −1447 of IP-10 appeared to be in complete Linkage disequilibrium (LD) (D’ = 0.999, r2 = 0.689).
Conclusion
Our data support the concept that IFN-γ and IP-10 gene polymorphisms are not predictors of disease progression among Egyptian patients with HCV infection.
Disclosure statement
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.