Association between Interleukin-12 Receptor B1 Gene Polymorphism (rs401502 C/G) and Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection

Abstract

Introduction: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major health problem worldwide and may lead to serious clinical complications, including chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The host’s genetic background in immune system genes is a crucial etiologic factor in progression of HBV infection to chronic disease or clearance of the virus from the body. Interleukin 12 and its receptor (IL12 Receptor) play an important role in the clearance of viral infections, especially HBV. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between interleukin 12 receptor B1 gene single nucleotide polymorphism (rs401502 C/G) and chronic HBV infection. Methods: In this case control study, genomic DNA of 105 chronically HBV infected patients and 105 healthy controls was extracted. Genotype of (rs401502 C/G) single nucleotide polymorphism was determined using polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. Results: The frequency of (rs401502 C/G) SNP for GG, GC, CC genotypes and G, C alleles was %53.3, %41, %5.7 and %73.3, %26.7 in the chronic patients and %51.4, %41, %7.6 %71.9 , and %28.1 in the control group, respectively. Statistical analysis of the results showed that there was not any significant difference between the case and control groups (p=0.851). Conclusion: In this study, no association was found between (rs401502 C/G) single nucleotide polymorphism within IL12RB1 gene and chronic hepatitis B virus infection. It seems that this SNP does not play a crucial role in susceptibility to HBV chronic infection

Keywords

• Hepatitis B virus
• Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms
• IL-12 Receptor B1
• Chronic Hepatitis