Association of Polymorphisms in TRAIL and Chronic Hepatitis B in Chinese Han Populations from Shandong Province.

BACKGROUND

HBV is the most common and serious infectious disease in China. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) belongs to the TNF-super family and can induce apoptosis in addition to other biological effects. It has been found that the occurrence of chronic hepatitis B is related to polymorphisms of many apoptotic factors. This study therefore aims to investigate the association of TRAIL polymorphism with chronic hepatitis B by observing the polymorphism and gene frequency of the TRAIL gene at 1525G/A and 1595C/T of the 3'-UTR among people of the Chinese Han ethnicity.

METHODS

This study followed a case-control design. Polymorphisms of the TRAIL gene were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) methods in 187 patients with chronic hepatitis B and 142 healthy controls.

RESULTS

The alleles of TRAIL at 1525G/A and 1595C/T have achieved genetic equilibrium in normal individuals (P<0.05) and patients with chronic hepatitis B(P=0.547). The genotype frequencies of TRAIL at 1525GG/1595CC in female patients were significantly higher than those in male patients. The frequencies of the AA genotype at 1525G/A and the TT genotype at 1595C/T sites were significantly lower in patients with chronic hepatitis B with HBeAg positive than in healthy controls (10.5 vs 23.2%, P<0.05). The frequency of the AA genotype at 1525G/A and TT genotype at 1595C/T sites were significantly lower in the chronic hepatitis B individuals than in normal controls (12.3 vs 23.2%, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

TRAIL may be related to susceptibility to hepatitis B.