A gene variation of interferon gamma receptor-I promoter (rs1327474A>G) and chronic hepatitis C virus infection

Interferon gamma signaling pathway is an important trigger for activating antiviral immune responses and production of wide variety of molecules with anti-microbial profiles including type 1 cytokines. Any defect or variation in IFNG signaling pathway may result in susceptibility or progression to diverse diseases such as inflammatory and virus associated disorders. Rs1327474 A/G also known as -611 A/G is an important variation which is located in promoter region of IFNGR1 and may have potent risk for HCV susceptibility. In present survey, we attempted to inquire the plausible linkage of rs1327474 A/G and HCV chronic infection or the clearance of the virus. For this purpose, 154 HCV patients and 200 normal controls were enrolled in the study, and genomic DNA was isolated from PBMCS and IFNGR1 -611 polymorphism was genotyped by polymerase chain reaction- Fragments Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. While, AA, AG and GG genotype frequency included 37.8%, 53.7%, 8.5% in healthy controls, 41.6%, 46.1%, 12.3% were found in chronic HCV patients. Interestingly, allelic percentage was similar in both separated groups within 64.7%, 35.3% and 65.3%, 34.7% were obtained for T and G allele in control and case group respectively. Despite of our exception for the possible role of this variation in an important promoter region of IFGR1 gene, rs1327474 A/G was not associateed with HCV chronic infection among an Iranian studied group. Comprehensively, -611A/G cannot consider as a risk biomarker for susceptibility to chronic HCV disease.