Response to treatment in Brazilian patients with chronic hepatitis C is associated with a single-nucleotide polymorphism near the interleukin-28B gene

Abstract

A single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) upstream of interleukin (IL)28B was recently identified as an important predictor of the outcome of chronic hepatitis C patients treated with pegylated interferon plus ribavirin (PEG-IFN/RBV). The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the IL28B gene polymorphism (rs12979860) and virological response in chronic hepatitis C patients. Brazilian patients (n = 263) who were infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 and were receiving PEG-IFN/RBV were genotyped. Early virological response (EVR) (12 weeks), end-of-treatment response (EOTR) (48 weeks), sustained virological response (SVR) (72 weeks) and relapse were evaluated using conventional and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays. The frequency of the C allele in the population was 39%. Overall, 43% of patients experienced SVR. The IL28B CC genotype was significantly associated with higher treatment response rates and a lower relapse rate compared to the other genotypes [84% vs. 58% EVR, 92% vs. 63% EOTR, 76% vs. 38% SVR and 17% vs. 40% relapse rate in CC vs. other genotypes (CT and TT), respectively]. Thus, the IL28B genotype appears to be a strong predictor of SVR following PEG-IFN/RBV therapy in treatment-naïve Brazilian patients infected with HCV genotype 1. This study, together with similar research examining other SNPs, should help to define adequate protocols for the treatment of patients infected with HCV genotype 1, especially those with a poor prognosis.

Association of cytokine gene polymorphisms with hepatitis C virus infection in a population from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

“…However, it was not observed by Ferreira et al 31 and Conde et al, 32 two other works made in Brazil. Grandi et al 33 in a population from south Brazil reported that the rs12979860 CC genotype was significantly associated with higher treatment response rates and a lower relapse rate compared to other genotypes. Cavalcante et al 34 confirmed this result in a population from northeast Brazil, where IL-28B rs12979860 CC was associated with SVR, and the CT or TT genotypes were associated with failure of therapy.…”

Tumour necrosis factor -308 and -238 promoter polymorphisms are predictors of a null virological response in the treatment of Brazilian hepatitis C patients

“…Patients and follow-up - The 263 patients enrolled in this study were the same individuals who participated in a previous study ( Grandi et al 2013 ). Briefly, the study population consisted of 154 males (48.0 ± 10.4 years old) and 109 females (55.5 ± 10.3 years old) living in the southernmost state of Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul).…”

“…A recent study from our laboratory has shown that the response to treatment in Brazilian patients with hepatitis C was associated with a SNP near the IL-28B gene ( Grandi et al 2013 ). The aim of the present study, which was performed with the same group of patients (n = 263), was to determine whether IL-10, TNF and Mx1 gene promoter polymorphisms are relevant for the response to PEG-IFN/RBV therapy.…”

Expressão do HLA-G no tecido hepático de pacientes coinfectados com HIV/HCV

“…genótipo C/C apresenta melhor RVS, quando comparado aos C/T e T/T (102;145) . Em nosso estudo o genótipo C/T foi o mais comum, encontrado em 56% dos pacientes, seguido do genótipo C/C (34%) e, com menor frequência, T/T (10% (146) . No estado do Rio de Janeiro, região mais próxima a Ribeirão Preto, Ramos et al encontraram em 66 pacientes cronicamente infectados pelo HCV uma frequência de 32%…”