[Clinical significance of interleukin-28B and RNAse L gene polymorphism determination in patients with chronic viral hepatitis C].

AIM: Determination of frequency of occurrence and clinical significance ofinterleukin-28B (IL28B) and RNAse L gene polymorphism in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC).

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

104 hospital patients with CHC (65% male; 63% with genotype 1 hepatitis C virus - HCV) were examined. 70 patients received therapy with interferon (IFN) and ribavirin (RBV). Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of IL28B gene 39743165T>G (rs8099917), SNP 39738787C>T (rs12979860) and RNAse Lgene (1385G>A) were determined by polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

The frequency of detection of "favorable," SNP allele variants of IL28B gene in patients with CHC was lower than in population of the European region. In patients with genotype 1 HCV, mutant alleles in SNP 39743165T>G (p=0.045) and 39738787C>T (p=0.005) occurred more frequently than in patients with other virus genotypes. Highervalues of alanine aminotransferase in patients with genotype CC 39738787C>T were detected. Frequencies of SNP variants of IL28B and RNAse L gene did not differ depending on the speed of disease progression (p>0.5). Response to IFN/RBV therapy was higher in "favorable" TT (SNP 39743165T>G) and CC (SNP 39738787C>T) variants.

CONCLUSION

Examination for IL28B gene SNP 39738787C>T is recommended before the start of IFN/RBV therapy in all the patients with genotype 1 HCV as a prognostic factor on the therapy response. RNAse L gene SNP 1385G>A does not have a clear clinical significance in CHC.