Relationship between interleukin-6 polymorphism and susceptibility to chronic hepatitis B virus infection

AIM:To identify the relationship between tag single nucleotide polymorphisms(tag SNPs) of interleukin-6(IL-6) gene and susceptibility to chronic hepatitis B virus(HBV) infection in a Han Chinese population.METHODS:We performed a case-control study of501 Chinese patients with chronic HBV infection and301 self-limiting HBV-infected individuals as controls.Genomic DNA was isolated from the whole blood of all subjects using phenol/chloroform with MaXtract highdensity tubes. Tag SNPs were identified using genotype data from the panel(Han Chinese in Beijing) of the phase II HapMap Project. Four tag SNPs in IL-6(rs17147230A/T,rs2066992G/T,rs2069837A/G and rs2069852A/G) were genotyped by the Multiplex Snapshot technique. The genotype and allele frequencies were calculated and analyzed.RESULTS:Five haplotypes were involved in the analysis,with frequencies higher than 0.03. One of the haplotypes,TTAA,was significantly different between the two groups. Overall haplotype P values were:ATAA,P = 0.605,OR(95%CI) = 1.056(0.860-1.297); TGAG,P = 0.385,OR(95%CI) = 1.179(0.813-1.709); TGGG,P = 0.549,OR(95%CI) = 1.087(0.827-1.429); TTAA,P = 0.004,OR(95%CI) = 0.655(0.491-0.873); TTAG,P = 0.266,OR(95%CI) = 1.272(0.832-1.944). However,the four SNPs showed no significant genotype/allele associations with susceptibility to chronic HBV infection. Overall allele P values were:rs17147230,P = 0.696,OR(95%CI) = 1.041(0.850-1.276); rs2066992,P = 0.460,OR(95%CI)= 1.090(0.868-1.369); rs2069837,P = 0.898,OR(95%CI) = 0.983(0.759-1.274); rs2069852,P = 0.165,OR(95%CI) = 0.859(0.693-1.064). Overall genotype P values were:rs17147230,P = 0.625; rs2066992,P= 0.500; rs2069837,P = 0.853; and rs2069852,P =0.380.CONCLUSION:The four tag SNPs of IL-6 gene may be associated with susceptibility to chronic HBV infection in the Han Chinese population.     

Relationship between cytokine gene polymorphisms and chronic hepatitis B virus infection

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is still a public health problem worldwide, being endemic in some parts of the world. It can lead to serious liver diseases such as chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular cancer. The differences in host immune response can be one of the reasons for the various clinical presentations of HBV infection. Polymorphisms of genes encoding the proinflammatory and antiinflammatory cytokines, which are responsible for regulation of the immune response, can affect the clinical presentation of the infection. Particularly, the polymorphisms of the genes encoding cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-18, IL-28B, interferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor-α, tumor growth factor-β1, and regulatory molecules like vitamin D receptor and chemokine receptor 5 can be responsible for different clinical presentations of HBV infections. The genomic information about cytokines and other mediators can be important for determining high-risk people for developing chronic hepatitis or hepatocellular cancer and may be used to plan treatment and preventive approaches for these people. In this review, the current knowledge in the literature on the association between cytokine/regulatory molecule gene polymorphisms and clinical course of chronic HBV infection is summarized, and the clinical implementations and future prospects regarding this knowledge are discussed.     

interleukin 28B genetic polymorphism and hepatitis B virus infection

interleukin(iL)28B genetic polymorphism is significantly associated with the sustained virological response rate in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with pegylated interferon-α(PEG-iFN)plus ribavirin and with spontaneous hepatitis C virus clearance.However,a consensus on the relationship between iL28B genetic polymorphism and the favorable outcome of chronic hepatitis B virus infection defined by hepatitis B e antigen seroconversion,and/or hepatitis B surface antigen seroclearance in patients treated with interferon or PEG-iFN has not been reached.Several reports failed to show a positive association,while some studies demonstrated a positive association in certain subject settings.More prospective studies including large cohorts are needed to determine the possible association between iL28B genetic polymorphism and the outcome of interferon or PEG-iFN treatment for chronic hepatitis B.     

慢性乙型肝炎患者血清IL-18水平与HBV DNA含量的关系

目的检测慢性乙型肝炎（CHB）患者血清IL-18与HBV DNA含量,探讨乙型肝炎慢性化的机理,为慢性乙型肝炎的治疗提供依据。方法分离97例CHB临床血清标本,用双抗体夹心ELISA法检测血清IL-18水平;用核酸荧光定量聚合酶链反应测HBV DNA含量;以30位健康献血者的血清为对照。结果结果与正常对照相比,CHB患者IL-18水平明显升高（P〈0.05）,lL-18水平在HBV DNA阳性各组间无显著差异。结论血清lL-18与CHB的疾病过程相关,与HBV DNA含量无关。     

Relationship between hepatitis B virus DNA levels and liver histology in patients with chronic hepatitis B

AIM： To study the relationship between hepatitis B virus （HBV） DNA levels and liver histology in patients with chronic hepatitis B （CHB） and to determine the prevalence and characteristics of hepatitis B e antigen （HBeAg） negative patients.
METHODS： A total of 213 patients with CHB were studied, and serum HBV DNA levels were measured by the COBAS Amplicor HBV Monitor test. All patients were divided into two groups according to the HBeAg status.The correlation between serum HBV DNA levels and liver damage （liver histology and biochemistry） was explored.
RESULTS： Of the 213 patients with serum HBV DNA levels higher than 10^5 copies/mL, 178 （83.6%） were HBeAg positive, 35 （16.4%） were HBeAg negative. The serum HBV DNA levels were not correlated to the age,history of CHB, histological grade and stage of liver disease in either HBeAg negative or HBeAg positive patients. There was no correlation between serum levels of HBV DNA and alanine aminotransferanse （ALT）,aspartate aminotrans-ferase （AST） in HBeAg positive patients. In HBeAg negative patients, there was no correlation between serum levels of HBV DNA and AST,while serum DNA levels correlated with ALT （r = 0.351, P = 0.042）. The grade （G） of liver disease correlated with ALT and AST （P 〈 0.05, r = 0.205, 0.327 respectively）in HBeAg positive patients. In HBeAg negative patients,correlations were shown between ALT, AST and the G （P 〈 0.01, and r = 0.862, 0.802 respectively）. HBeAg negative patients were older （35 ± 9 years vs 30 ±9 years, P 〈 0.05 ） and had a longer history of HBV infection （8 ± 4 years vs 6 ± 4 years, P 〈 0.05） and a lower HBV DNA level than HBeAg positive patients （8.4± 1.7 Log HBV DNA vs 9.8 ± 1.3 Log HBV DNA, P 〈0.001）. There were no significant differences in sex ratio,ALT and AST levels and liver histology between the two groups.
CONCLUSION： Serum HBV DNA level is not correlated to histological grade or stage of liver disease in CHB patients with HBV DNA mor     

Relationship of human leukocyte antigen class Ⅱ genes with the susceptibility to hepatitis B virus infection and the response to interferon in HBV-infected patients

AIM: To study the relationship of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB1 and -DQB1 alleles with the genetic susceptibility to HBV infection and the response to interferon (IFN) in HBV-infected patients.METHODS: Low-resolution DNA typing kit was used to determine HLA-DR-1 and -DQB1 genes in 72 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and HLA-DRB1 in 200 healthy people ready to donate their bone marrow in Shanghai.Among CHB patients, 35 were treated with IFNα-1b for 24 wk.RESULTS: The frequencies of HLA-DRB1*06, DRB1*08and DRB1*16 alleles in 72 patients were higher than in 200 healthy people (2.08% vs0%, OR = 3.837, P= 0.018;11.11% vs5.50%, OR = 2.148, P= 0.034; and 6.94% vs 3.00%, OR = 0.625, P = 0.049, respectively); whereas that of DRB1*07 allele was lower (2.78% vs 7.75%,OR = 0.340, P = 0.046). The frequency of HLA-DRB1* 14allele was higher in 11 responders to IFN compared with 24 non-responders (18.18% vs2.08%, OR = 10.444,P = 0.031), whereas that of DQB1*07 allele was inverse (9.09% vs 37.50%, OR = 0.167, P= 0.021).CONCLUSION: The polymorphism of HLA class Ⅱ may influence the susceptibility to HBV infection and the response to IFN in studied CHB patients. Compared with other HLA-DRB1 alleles, HLA-DRB1*06, DRB1*08, and DRB1*16 may be associated with chronicity of HBV infection, HLA-DRB1*07 with protection against HBV infection, and HLA-DRB1*14 allele may be associated with a high rate of the response of CHB patients to IFN treatment.Compared with other HLA-DQB1 alleles, HLA-DQB1*07 may be associated with low response rate to IFN.     

乙型肝炎病毒囊膜中蛋白与白细胞介素18联合基因免疫

目的　构建HBV囊膜中蛋白核酸疫苗表达载体并免疫小鼠 ,观察白细胞介素 18(IL 18)对基因免疫的辅助作用。方法　构建质粒 pVR10 12 M、pcDNA 3 .1- IL 18,肌内注射法免疫 2 5只Balb/c小鼠 ,3组小鼠分别注射 10 0 μgpVR10 12 ,pVR10 12 M ,pVR10 12 M和 pcDNA 3 .1- IL 18质粒 ,每 2周 1次 ,共 3次。每次免疫 2周后眼眶采血 ,检测血清抗 HBs,第 3次免疫后 2周应用乳酸脱氢酶检测法验证特异性细胞杀伤率。结果　经注射上述质粒后 ,可观察到注射 pVR10 12 M组的小鼠随免疫次数的增加 ,抗 HBs阳性率、抗体滴度均逐步增高 ;同时联用质粒 pcDNA 3 .1- IL 18的小鼠抗 HBs阳性率、抗体滴度均较单独应用 pVR10 12 M组为低 (第 3次免疫后抗 HBs阳性率、抗体滴度两组比较P <0 .0 5 )。细胞毒性实验证实联用组的细胞杀伤率为 (89.0 2± 15 .5 4) % ,较单独应用pVR10 12 M组 (83 .0 8± 14 .0 2 ) %为高 ,但两组之间差异无显著性。 结论　注射质粒 pVR10 12 M可诱导小鼠产生足量的抗 HBs ,并可检测出特异性细胞免疫反应 ;联合应用IL 18对特异性体液免疫有抑制作用 ,对特异性细胞免疫可能有增强作用     

Host susceptibility to persistent hepatitis B virus infection

Genetic epidemiology researches such as twin studies, family-clustering of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection studies and ethnic difference studies have provided the evidence that host genetic factors play an important role in determining the outcome of HBV infection. The opening questions include which human genes are important in infection and how to find them. Though a number of studies have sought genetic associations between HBV infection/persistence and gene polymorphisms, the candidate gene-based approach is clearly inadequate to fully explain the genetic basis of the disease. With the advent of new genetic markers and automated genotyping, genetic mapping can be conducted extremely rapid. This approach has been successful in some infectious diseases. Linkage analysis can find host genes susceptible to HBV and is of great clinical importance.     

Relationship of human leukocyte antigen class Ⅱ genes with the susceptibility to hepatitis B virus infection and the response to interferon in HBV-infected patients

AIM: To study the relationship of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB1 and -DQB1 alleles with the genetic susceptibility to HBV infection and the response to interferon (IFN) in HBV-infected patients. METHODS: Low-resolution DNA typing kit was used to determine HLA-DR-1 and -DQB1 genes in 72 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and HLA-DRB1 in 200 healthy people ready to donate their bone marrow in Shanghai. Among CHB patients, 35 were treated with IFNa-lb for 24 wk. RESULTS: The frequencies of HLA-DRB1~*06, DRB1~*08 and DRB1~*16 alleles in 72 patients were higher than in 200 healthy people (2.08% vs0%, OR=3.837, P=0.018; 11.11% vs 5.50%, OR=2.148, P=0.034; and 6.94% vs 3.00%, OR=0.625, P=0.049, respectively); whereas that of DRB1~*07 allele was lower (2.78% vs 7.75%, OR=0.340, P=0.046). The frequency of HLA-DRB1~*14 allele was higher in 11 responders to IFN compared with 24 non-responders (18.18% vs 2.08%, OR=10.444, P=0.031), whereas that of DQB1*07 allele was inverse (9.09% vs 37.50%, OR=0.167, P=0.021). CONCLUSION: The polymorphism of HLA class II may influence the susceptibility to HBV infection and the response to IFN in studied CHB patients. Compared with other HLA-DRB1 alleles, HLA-DRB1~*06, DRB1~*08, and DRB1~*16 may be associated with chronicity of HBV infection, HLA-DRB1~*07 with protection against HBV infection, and HLA-DRB1~*14 allele may be associated with a high rate of the response of CHB patients to IFN treatment. Compared with other HLA-DQB1 alleles, HLA-DQB1~*07 may be associated with low response rate to IFN.     

拉米夫定治疗慢性乙型肝炎病人的长期疗效

通过多中心,承机,双盲,安慰剂对照的临床试验,研究拉米夫定（ｌａｍｉｖｕｄｉｎｅ）对慢性乙型肝炎（乙肝）病人的疗效和安全性。方法随机选择３２２例慢性乙肝病拉米夫定治疗（１００ｍｇ／ｄ）,１０７例病人服用安慰剂作对照,共治疗１２周,在１２周治疗结束后,拉米夫定组和安慰剂组病人均继续服用拉米夫定１００ｍｇ治疗至５２周。疗效评估包括临床症状和体征,肝功能和ＨＢＶ复制指标。结果治疗１２周,拉米夫定组ＨＢＶ     

慢性乙型肝炎抗病毒治疗:是原则,也是艺术

近来，乙型肝炎抗病毒治疗的原则已为广大临床医生所接受。目前治疗原则是基于丙氨酸氨基转移酶（ALT）活性和乙型肝炎病毒（HBV）DNA水平所制订，其目的是降低或抑制病毒DNA，从而达到防止疾病进展的作用。在这一原则和目标中，治疗必然是长期的，但治疗对象的选择、终点的确定、耐药株的产生和处理，以及有无预测治疗效果的时间点等诸多现实和重要的问题是临床实践中必需回答的。     

No association between IRF3 polymorphism and susceptibility to hepatitis B virus infection in Chinese patients

AIM: To investigate the association between three tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (tagSNPs) in interferon regulatory factors (IRF3) and the genetic susceptibility to chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.METHODS: We performed a case-control study of 985 Chinese cases of chronic HBV infection and 294 self-limiting HBV-infected individuals as controls. Three tagSNPs in IRF3 (rs10415576, rs2304204, rs2304206) were genotyped with the Multiplex SNaPshot technique. The genotype and allele frequencies were calculated and analyzed.RESULTS: The three SNPs showed no significant genotype/allele associations with chronic HBV infection. Overall allele P values were: rs10415576, P = 0.0908, odds ratio (OR) [95% confidence interval (CI)] = 1.1798 (0.9740-1.4291); rs2304204, P = 0.5959, OR (95% CI) = 1.0597 (0.8552-1.3133); rs2304206, P = 0.8372, OR (95% CI) = 1.0250 (0.8097-1.2976). Overall genotype P values were: rs10415576, P = 0.2106; rs2304204, P = 0.8458; rs2304206, P = 0.8315. There were no statistically significant differences between patients with chronic HBV infection and controls. Haplotypes generated by these three SNPs were also not significantly different between the two groups.CONCLUSION: The three tagSNPs of IRF3 are not associated with HBV infection in the Han Chinese population.     

乙型肝炎病毒感染与原发性肝癌发生的关系

目的　探讨乙型肝炎病毒 (HBV)感染与原发性肝癌 (PHC)发生的关系。方法　采用ELISA法对开封地区110例肝癌、2 2 0例良性肝病和 5 90例健康体检者进行了HBV血清标志物检测。结果　①肝癌组HBV感染率 ( 94.5 5 % )和HBsAg携带率 ( 89.1% ) ,显著高于良性肝病组和健康体检组的感染率 ( 75 .0 0 %、5 2 .2 0 % )和携带率 ( 4 5 .0 0 %、6.2 7% ) ,P均 <0 .0 0 5。②肝癌组HBV血清标志物感染模式 ,以HBsAg、抗 HBe和抗 HBc阳性多见 ,达 5 0 .0 0 % ;HBsAg和抗 HBc阳性次之 ,为 2 1.82 % ;HBsAg、HBeAg、和抗 HBc阳性相对较低 ,为 17.2 7%。③HBsAg阳性病例发生PHC以 3 0岁～ 5 9岁者居多 ,达 77.5 5 % ;HBsAg阴性病例 ,则多见于 5 0岁～ 69岁 ,为 66.67% ,明显较HBsAg阳性者滞后。结论　HBV感染与肝癌发生关系密切 ,是本地区发生PHC的主要病原学因素。因此 ,积极预防和控制HBV感染流行 ,是减少原发性肝癌发生的关键所在。     

慢性乙型肝炎患者中庚型肝炎病毒检测

目的了解慢性乙型肝炎中庚型肝炎病毒（ＨＧＶ）的感染率及其对病变程度和ＨＢＶ复制的影响。方法逆转录聚合酶链反应（ＲＴＰＣＲ）检测６５例经肝活检证实的慢性乙型肝炎患者血清中ＨＧＶＲＮＡ。结果有８例（１２．３％）慢性乙型肝炎患者合并ＨＧＶ感染,轻度、中度和重度患者中的ＨＧＶ检出率统计学处理差异无显著性,ＨＧＶ混合感染与其临床表现无相关性,ＨＧＶ阳性组与阴性组患者的肝功能改变相近。ＨＢｅＡｇ阳性组和ＨＢｅＡｇ阴性组患者的ＨＧＶ检出率亦相当。结论在慢性乙型肝炎患者中,ＨＧＶ混合感染对慢性乙型肝炎的病变程度及病毒复制无明显影响     

与乙型肝炎病毒感染相关的易感或拮抗基因的研究进展

乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)感染是世界范围的严重公共卫生问题之一.HBV感染后,机体对病毒的清除能力以及疾病的进展和不同临床转归,除了与病毒因素和环境因素有关外,在很大程度上取决于个体间基因组的差异.本文就近年来与乙型肝炎病毒感染相关的易感或拮抗基因的研究进展及研究中存在的问题作一综述,主要包括影响机体免疫应答的基因、人类白细胞抗原(HLA)、肿瘤坏死因子(TNF)、白细胞介素(IL)、干扰素(IFN)等,同时对这一领域的研究前景作一展望.     

Occult hepatitis B virus infection is not associated with disease progression of chronic hepatitis C virus infection

AIM To clarify the prevalence of occult hepatitis B virus(HBV) infection(OBI) and the association between OBI and liver disease progression, defined as development of liver cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC), worsening of Child-Pugh class, or mortality in cases of chronic hepatitis C virus(HCV) infection. METHODS This prospective cohort study enrolled 174 patients with chronic HCV infection(chronic hepatitis, n = 83; cirrhosis, n = 47; HCC, n = 44), and evaluated disease progression during a mean follow-up of 38.7 mo. OBI was defined as HBV DNA positivity in 2 or moredifferent viral genomic regions by nested polymerase chain reaction using 4 sets of primers in the S, C, P and X open reading frame of the HBV genome. RESULTS The overall OBI prevalence in chronic HCV patients at enrollment was 18.4%, with 16.9%, 25.5% and 13.6% in the chronic hepatitis C, liver cirrhosis and HCC groups, respectively(P = 0.845). During follow-up, 52 patients showed disease progression, which was independently associated with aspartate aminotransferase 40 IU/L, Child-Pugh score and sustained virologic response(SVR), but not with OBI positivity. In 136 patients who were not in the SVR state during the study period, OBI positivity was associated with neither disease progression, nor HCC development. CONCLUSION The prevalence of OBI in chronic HCV patients was 18.4%, and OBI was not associated with disease progression in South Koreans.     

Dual chronic hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infection

Dual hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are common in HBV or HCV endemic areas. However, several clinical and pathogenetic issues remain unresolved. First, clinical and in vitro studies suggest the interactions between two viruses. The dynamics of the interaction in untreated setting versus treated setting and its influence on the long-term outcomes await further studies. A key issue regarding viral interactions is whether modulation of infection occurs in the same dually infected individual hepatocyte of the liver. Clarifying this issue may help to understand the reciprocal interference between HCV and HBV and provide clues for future immunopathogenetic studies. Second, the prevalence and clinical significance of coexisting occult HBV infection in patients with chronic HCV infection need further investigations. Third, combination therapy of peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin appears to be just as effective and safe for the treatment of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive patients chronically infected with active chronic hepatitis C as it is in patients with HCV monoinfection. Nevertheless, one-third of dually infected patients with nondetectable serum HBV DNA-level pretreatment developed HBV reactivation posttreatment. How to prevent and treat this reactivation should be clarified. Furthermore, about 10% of the dually infected patients lost HBsAg. Underlying mechanisms await further investigations. Finally, the optimal treatment strategies for dually infected patients with hepatitis B e antigen-positive chronic hepatitis B should be identified in future clinical trials.     

白细胞介素-12B+1188位点基因多态性与乙型肝炎病毒宫内感染的关系

目的分析IL-12B基因3’非翻译区（UTR）＋1188（A／C）位点单核苷酸多态性（SNP）与HBV宫内感染易感性的关系，探讨高危儿童发生宫内HBV感染的易感因素。方法母亲为HBV携带[HBsAg和（或）HBeAg阳性，或HBVDNA阳性]所生新生儿，出生后按程序进行主、被动联合免疫，出生时外周静脉血HBsAg和（或）HBVDNA阳性，并持续6个月以上者为宫内感染组，共70例；出生时及后期随访中未出现过HBsAg和（或）HBVDNA阳性，1岁时抗-HBs达保护滴度（〉10mU／L）者为宫内未感染组，71例；另取健康儿童外周血共40份作为对照。提取外周血基因组DNA，PCR扩增目的片段后进行测序，检测IL-12B基因3’UTR＋1188（A／c）位点SNP。结果宫内感染组IL-12B基因＋1188位点AA、AC、CC基因型分布频率分别为25．7％、44．3％和30．0％，宫内未感染组三种基因型分布频率为36．6％、47．9％和15．5％，正常对照组三种基因型的分布频率分别为48．8％、39．0％和12．2％。宫内感染组与宫内未感染组间CC基因型和非CC基因型之间频率分布差异有统计学意义（X^2=17．078。P〈0．01，ORex=2．338，95％CI：1．028～5．035）；三组等位基因频率分别为A47．8％、60．7％和67．8％；C52．2％、39．3％和32．2％，宫内感染组与宫内未感染组等位基因频率比较，无异有统计学意义（X^2=4．586，P=0．032；ORA=0．597，95％CI：0．372～0．959；ORc=1．673，95％CI：1．043～2．684）。结论IL-12B＋1188位点A／C多态性CC基因型及C等位基因携带高危儿童可能易发生HBV宫内感染，而对携带HBV母亲所生的高危儿A等位基因可能对发生HBV宫内感染有一定的保护作用。     

MiR-122 in hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus dual infection

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are the most common causes of chronic liver diseases and hepatocelluar carcinomas. Over the past few years, the liver-enriched microRNA-122 (miR-122) has been shown to differentially regulate viral replication of HBV and HCV. It is notable that the level of miR-122 is positively and negatively regulated by HCV and HBV, respectively. Consistent with the well-documented phenomenon that miR-122 promotes HCV accumulation, inhibition of miR-122 has been shown as an effective therapy for the treatment of HCV infection in both chimpanzees and humans. On the other hand, miR-122 is also known to block HBV replication, and HBV has recently been shown to inhibit miR-122 expression; such a reciprocal inhibition between miR-122 and HBV suggests an intriguing possibility that miR-122 replacement may represent a potential therapy for treatment of HBV infection. As HBV and HCV have shared transmission routes, dual infection is not an uncommon scenario, which is associated with more advanced liver disease than either HBV or HCV mono-infection. Thus, there is a clear need to further understand the interaction between HBV and HCV and to delineate the role of miR-122 in HBV/HCV dual infection in order to devise effective therapy. This review summarizes the current understanding of HBV/HCV dual infection, focusing on the pathobiological role and therapeutic potential of miR-122.     

HMGB1 gene polymorphisms in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection

AIM: To characterize high mobility group box chromosomal protein 1(HMGB1) polymorphisms in patients infected with hepatitis B virus(HBV) and determine the different patterns in patient subgroups.METHODS: A total of 1495 unrelated Han Chinese HBV carriers were recruited in this hospital-based casecontrol study.The HMGB1 1176 G/C polymorphism was genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay.RESULTS: A significant association was observed between HMGB1 1176 G/C polymorphism and outcome of HBV infection.The subjects bearing 1176G/G genotype had an increased risk of susceptibility to chronic hepatitis B,liver cirrhosis and severe hepatitis B when compared with those bearing at least one 1176C allele.CONCLUSION: Patients with 1176G/G genotype of HMGB1 gene are more likely to have a progressive status in HBV infection.