Association between IFN-γ genetic polymorphisms and susceptibility to hepatitis B virus infection: A meta-analysis

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has become a global health burden because of its contagious mode of transmission and the resultant long-term liver damage.

Aim: To investigate how the polymorphisms of the IFN-γ gene, particularly the IFN-γ +874T/A (rs2430561) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), influence susceptibility to HBV infection.

Subjects and methods: Relevant articles were identified by a comprehensive literature search covering the following computerised bibliographic databases. Eleven independent case-control studies were ultimately selected for the current meta-analysis, comprising a total of 1527 HBV cases and 1467 healthy subjects.

Results: The results in the current meta-analysis showed that carriers of the IFN-γ A allele were more likely to develop HBV infection than those without in all five genetic models (all p < 0.05). According to the ethnicity-based sub-group analysis, a significant difference of the IFN-γ rs2430561 T > A polymorphism was detected associated with the increased risk of HBV infection in Asians and European-derived populations in the majority of the groups.

Conclusions: The results implicate a possible relationship between the IFN-γ rs2430561 T > A polymorphism and the risk of HBV infection. Therefore, IFN-γ genetic polymorphisms might be important in determining an individual’s susceptibility to HBV infection.

• IFN-γ
• genetic polymorphism
• HBV infection
• meta-analysis

Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge the helpful comments from our reviewers on this paper.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.