Tumor necrosis factor-α -308 G/A polymorphism in Iranian patients with chronic hepatitis C

The impact of genetic changes like Single nucleotide polymorphisms on expression rate and function of cytokine is under study. The aim of the present study was to determine TNF-α cytokine gene polymorphism -308 G/A association with the susceptibility to hepatitis C (HCV) chronic infection.

In this case-control study، 152 HCV infected patients and 164 healthy controls were studied. Genotyping was carried out by amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (ARMS-PCR) and the distribution of the TNF-α Gene -308 G/A polymorphism was compared in these groups. Tetra-primer ARMS-PCR employs two pairs of primers to amplify two alleles in one PCR reaction.

The frequency of the TNF-α gene polymorphism at position -308 in HCV patients was GG (88. 8%)، GA (11. 2%)، AA (0%) and in healthy controls was GG (75%)، GA (24%)، AA (0%) (OR=2. 626، 95%CI=1. 419-4. 860، P=0. 002). There was a significant difference in genotype or allele frequency between HCV patients and control group (P<0. 05).

Present study showed an association between TNF-α promoter polymorphism (-308) and hepatitis C in an Iranian population.