Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T polymorphism and high plasma homocysteine in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) infected patients from the Northeast of Brazil

Abstract

Background/AimHyperhomocysteinemia due to Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR) gene, in particular the C677T (Ala222Val) polymorphism were recently associated to steatosis and fibrosis. We analyzed the frequency of MTHFR gene in a cross-sectional study of patients affected by Chronic Hepatitis C (CHC) from Northeast of Brazil.MethodOne hundred seven-four untreated patients with CHC were genotyped for the C677T MTHFR. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood cells and the C677T MTHFR polymorphism was identified by PCR-RFLP. The homocysteine (Hcy) levels were determined by chemiluminescence method. All patients were negative for markers of Wilson's disease, hemochromatosis and autoimmune diseases and have current and past daily alcohol intake less than 100 g/week.ResultsAmong subjects infected with CHC genotype non-1 the frequency of MTHFR genotypes TT was 9.8% versus 4.4% genotype 1 (p = 0.01). Nevertheless, association was found between the MTHFR genotype TT × CT/CC polymorphism and the degree of steatosis and fibrosis in both hepatitis C genotype (p < 0.05). A significant difference was found on plasma Hcy levels in patients with steatosis regardless of HCV genotype (p = 0.03).ConclusionOur results indicate that plasma Hcy levels is highly prevalent in subjects with chronic hepatits C with steatosis regardless of HCV genotype and vitamin deficiency. The presence of genotype TT of MTHFR C677T polymorphism was more common in CHC genotype non-1 infected patient regardless of histopathological classification and genotype TT+CT frequencies were significant in the presence of fibrosis grade 1+2 and of steatosis in CHC infected patients from the northeast of Brazil regardless of HCV genotype. The genetic susceptibility of MTHFR C677T polymorphism should be confirmed in a large population.

Major Polymorphisms of Genes Involved in Homocysteine Metabolism in Malaria Patients in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

“…The genotypic frequencies found for the MTHFR C677T mutation are similar to those already reported in Burkina Faso [ 7 ]. Our results, however, differ from those reported in Sweden (46.3% 677CC, 43.4% 677CT, and 10.3% 677TT) in the mucosa of patients with colorectal cancer [ 13 ]; 28.6% 677CC, 44.9% 677CT, and 26.5% 677TT reported in patients with lymphoblastic leukemia in the Chinese population [ 17 ]; 51.4% 677CT, 41.4% 677CT, and 7.1% 677TT reported in Brazil in patients with chronic hepatitis C [ 14 ]; and 7.8% 677TT reported in children in the USA [ 18 ]. These differences could be explained by the type of population and the patients studied.…”

Plasmatic higher levels of homocysteine in Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)

“…The triglycerides levels and HDL cholesterol were significantly different in NAFLD patients compared to controls. Siqueira et al (2011) related that plasma Hcy levels is highly prevalent in subjects with chronic hepatits C with steatosis regardless of HCV genotype and vitamin deficiency [30]. …”