Associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms of cytokines and hepatitis B virus‐related liver cirrhosis: A case‐control study

Abstract

Abstract Background and Aims Various inflammatory and immune cytokines play key roles in the progression of hepatitis B virus (HBV)‐related liver cirrhosis (LC). This study explored the relationship between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in cytokines with the combined effect of polymorphisms and gender‐polymorphisms interaction and LC risk. Methods In this study, a case–control design was used, samples were selected from 45 patients with hepatitis B‐related cirrhosis and 45 age‐gender‐matched chronic HBV‐infected patients without cirrhosis attending the tumor hospital of Wuwei Academy of Medical Sciences. Fifteen SNPs were examined using a real‐time polymerase chain reaction allelic discrimination system. Logistic regression was utilized to assess cytokine‐associated SNPs and the association between SNPs and LC progression in HBV‐infected patients. Results The multivariate‐adjusted logistic model revealed that the GG/AG dominant model (OR, 16.38; 95% CI, 1.13–236.70) and G allele (OR, 5.93; 95% CI, 0.98–36.01) of rs1800896 were associated with an increased risk of cirrhosis in CHB patients. Instead, rs2227306 CT presented a reduced cirrhosis risk (OR, 0.22; 95% CI, 0.04–1.38). Rs2055979 AA/AC was negatively associated with the risk of cirrhosis, potentially reversed in males (p = 0.021). Rs1799964 CC/CT was positively related to the risk of cirrhosis but reduced the risk of cirrhosis in males (OR, 0.13; 95% CI, 0.022–0.808; p = 0.028). Both rs1799964 TT and rs1799724 CT/TT genotype showed a synergistic effect in reducing the risk of cirrhosis with rs1800896 AA (OR, 0.08; 95% CI, 0.01–1.43 and OR, 0.12; 95% CI, 0.01–2.21). Conclusion Polymorphisms rs1800896 and rs2227306 are potentially associated with the risk of cirrhosis. For the first time, the study highlights that the rs2055979 AA/AC and rs1799964 CC/CT polymorphism interact with gender and its potential reversal of cirrhosis risk in males. Furthermore, rs1800896 AA showed a synergistic effect with rs1799964 TT and rs1799724 CT/TT to prevent the progression of HBV infection to cirrhosis.

Keywords

• hepatitis B virus
• liver cirrhosis
• single‐nucleotide polymorphism