A tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) promoter polymorphism is associated with chronic hepatitis B infection |
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Authors: | H
hler,Kruger,Gerken,Schneider,Meyer Zum BÜ schenfelde,Rittner |
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Affiliation: | HÖhler,Kruger,Gerken,Schneider,Meyer Zum BÜschenfelde,Rittner |
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Abstract: | Cytokines such as TNF-α and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) are important for the elimination of infected hepatocytes during acute hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Two G versus A transitions in the TNF-α promoter region at positions ?308 and ?238 possibly influence TNF-α expression. We investigated these TNF-α polymorphisms in 71 patients with chronic HBV infection, in 32 subjects that had spontaneously recovered from acute HBV infection, and in 99 healthy controls. The ?238 A promoter variant was present in 18 (25%) of 71 patients with chronic HBV infection compared with two (6%) of 32 subjects with acute infection (P < 0.04), and seven (7%) of 99 controls (P < 0.003). By contrast, the prevalence of the variant at position ?308 was similar in all investigated groups. The observed differences could not be explained by linkage disequilibrium to HLA-B or -DRB1* alleles. These findings suggest an association between the TNF-α promoter polymorphism at position ?238 and the development of chronic HBV infection. This promoter variant appears to be linked to defective viral clearance. |
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Keywords: | hepatitis B virus chronic infection tumour necrosis factor-alpha promoter polymorphism MHC |
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