Association of candidate susceptible loci with chronic infection with hepatitis B virus in a Chinese population

A number of genetic loci have been proposed to be associated with persistent hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. This study aimed to evaluate the association and interaction of susceptible genes with HBV persistence in a Chinese population. A total of 17 polymorphisms in 9 candidate genes were studied in 361 Chinese chronic hepatitis B patients and 304 patients who recovered spontaneously. Distributions of susceptible polymorphisms were examined in healthy Chinese and Caucasian populations. Gene–gene interactions were tested by the multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR) method. The TNF ?308 G/G genotype and G allele, IL‐10RB codon 47 A allele, and MCP‐1 ?2518 G/G genotype and G allele were more frequent in patients than controls (P < 0.01, after multiple corrections Pc < 0.05), while the frequencies of TNF ?308 A/G genotype and IL‐10 ?592 A/A genotype were significantly higher in controls than in the patient group (Pc < 0.05). The frequencies of the risk allele MCP‐1 ?2518 G and CTLA4 6230 G were much higher in Chinese than in the Caucasian groups (P < 0.001). An interaction between CCR5 ?2459, TNFA ?863, IL‐10RB codon 47, and MCP‐1 ?2518 was detected by MDR (P = 0.001). The results indicate that genetic determinants may affect the outcome of HBV infection in both independent and synergic manners. J. Med. Virol. 82:371–378, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.