Hepatitis C pharmacogenetics: State of the art in 2010

Abstract

In 2009, a correlated set of polymorphisms in the region of the interleukin-28B (IL28B) gene were associated with clearance of genotype 1 hepatitis C virus (HCV) in patients treated with pegylated interferon-alfa and ribavirin. The same polymorphisms were subsequently associated with spontaneous clearance of HCV in untreated patients. The link between IL28B genotype and HCV clearance may impact decisions regarding initiation of current therapy, the design and interpretation of clinical studies, the economics of treatment, and the process of regulatory approval for new anti-HCV therapeutic agents. (HEPATOLOGY 2011;53:336-345)

T helper cell‑related cytokine gene polymorphisms and vitamin D pathway gene polymorphisms as predictors of survival probability in patients on renal replacement therapy

“…42,43 Similar results were obtained for patients with HBV infection. 44 However, IL28B rs12979860 and rs8099917 seem not to be related to survival probability of HBV/HCV-infected patients on HD.…”

Genetic variation in the interleukin -28B gene is not associated with fibrosis progression in patients with chronic hepatitis C and known date of infection

“…11 In particular, numerous studies have shown that individuals with the C/C genotype at the rs12979860 SNP (i.e., ''protective'' or ''responder'' genotype) have higher rates of rapid, sustained virological response to treatment with the current standard of care (i.e. PEG-IFN/RBV), compared to those carrying the T allele (C/T and T/T genotypes).…”

“…[6][7][8][9][10] Thus, patients with the T/T and C/T genotype at the rs12979860 SNP (nonresponder genotype) have been shown to exhibit a slower viral decline after pegylated interferon plus ribavirin (PEG-IFN/RBV) therapy, with the sustained virologic response (SVR) rates being significantly lower, compared to patients with the favorable C/C genotype. 11 Although this discovery has radically changed the landscape of antiviral treatment for HCV patients, providing insights into the mechanisms of IFN hyporesponsiveness, the precise mechanisms behind this association still needs to be unraveled. In addition, whether there is a link between the clinical manifestation of chronic HCV infection and the patient IL28B genotype is still an open question.…”

The importance of IL28B polymorphism in response to pegylated interferon α and ribavirin in chronic hepatitis caused by HCV genotype 1b

“…However, variants of the T/C or T/T IL28B gene are characterized by a lower percentage of SVR. The pharmacogenetics of chronic hepatitis is associated with a dependence of IL28B genotyping with the elimination of HCV and is important in the individualization of therapy, predicting the effectiveness and costs [3,8].…”