Role of TGF-β1 Codon 10 Polymorphism in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) has an inhibitory role in homeostasis of T-cell response and regulatory T cells and regulation of immune response against viral infections. Codon 10 of protein is located in the signal peptide and involved in secretion of cytokine. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of leu-pro polymorphism of codon 10 and hepatitis C susceptibility in patients. This case-control study was performed on 112 chronic hepatitis C patients and 122 healthy control subjects. TGF-β1 gene was amplified with PCR method and genotypes were determined using Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) with MspA1I restriction enzyme. The frequency of CT genotype in both groups was higher than CC and TT. Genotyping results for CC, CT and TT states in patients was 50%, 19.6% and 30.4% and in healthy controls was 59%, 13.9% and 27.1% respectively. We found no significant difference between patients and healthy controls according to codon 10 polymorphism. According to the results of this study, no relationship was found between this protein’s genetic variations and chronic hepatitis C infection susceptibility.