Lack of Genetic Association between Interleukin-18 Gene Polymorphism (rs1946518) and Chronic Hepatitis B Infection

Interleukin 18 is a member of the cytokines that play an important role in the Th1-mediated immune response by inducing interferon-gamma activity in collaboration with Interleukin-12 (IL-18). Interleukin 12 and Interleukin 18 can play an important role in purifying viruses. Considering the importance of IL-18, this study was conducted to investigate the relationship between Interleukin-18 Gene polymorphism (-607 C/A: rs1946518) and the susceptibility to chronic hepatitis B infection.
In this case-control study, the genomic DNA of 115 patients with chronic hepatitis B (with positive results of HBsAg and Anti-HBcAb serology testing) and 115 non-HBV-infected controls (negative results of HBsAg and Anti-HbcAb serology testing and no history of liver disease) was extracted by salting-out method and the genotype of single-nucleotide polymorphism (-607 C / A: rs1946518) was sequenced using PCR-RFLP method.
FINDING: The genotype frequency of TT, GT, and GG in patients was 40%, 49.6%, and 10.4% in patients, and 41.7%, 42.6%, and 15.7% in the control group, respectively. No significant difference was found between the patients group and the control group.
Based on the results of this study, there was no clear relationship between IL-18 polymorphism and the potential for chronic hepatitis B infection. Therefore, this polymorphism cannot be a potential factor for chronic hepatitis B.