Association of polymorphism of tumor necrosis factor-alpha gene promoter region with outcome of hepatitis B virus infection

AIM： To determine whether -238G/A and -857C/T polymorphisms of tumor necrosis factor-alpha （TNF-α）, gene promoter and hepatitis B （HB） viral genotypes were associated with outcomes of HBV infection. METHODS： A total of 244 HBV self-limited infected subjects, 208 asymptomatic carriers, and 443 chronic HB patients were recruited to conduct a case-control study. TNF-α -238G/A and -857C/T gene promoter polymorphisms were examined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism （PCR-RFLP）, and HBV genotypes were examined by nested PCR. RESULTS： The positive rate of HBV DNA in asymptomatic carder group and chronic HB group was 46.6% and 49.9%, respectively. HBV genotype proportion among the asymptomatic carriers was 2.1% for genotype A, 25.8% for genotype B, 68.0% for genotype C, and 4.1% for genotype B＋C mixed infection, and 0.9% for genotype A, 21.7% for genotype B, 71.5% for genotype C, 5.9% for genotype B＋C mixed infection in chronic HB group. There was no significant difference in genotype distribution between the asymptomatic carrier group and chronic HB group （X^2 = 1.66, P = 0.647）. The frequency of -238GG genotype in self-limited group was 95.1%, significantly higher than 90.7% in chronic HB group and 89.0% in asymptomatic carrier group （P = 0.041 and P = 0.016, respectively）.The frequency of TNF-α-857 CC in chronic HB group was 79.7%, significantly higher than 64.4% in asymptomatic carrier group and 70.9% in self-limited group （P〈0.001 and P = 0.023, respectively）. A multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that TNF-α-238GA and -857CC were independently associated with chronic HB after gender and age were adjusted.CONCLUSION： TNF-α promoter variants are likely to play a substantial role in the outcome of HBV infection.

Association of-238G/A and -857C/T Polymorphisms of Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha Gene Promoter Region With Outcomes of Hepatitis B Virus Infection

Objectives To determine whether -238G/A and -857C/T polymorphisms of tumor necrosis factor-alpha （TNF-o0 gene promoter were associated with outcomes of hepatitis B virus infection. Methods A total of 246 HBV self-limited infected subjects and 443 chronic hepatitis B （HB） patients were recruited in this case-control study. TNF-α-238G/A and -857C/T gene promoter polymorphisms were examined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism （PCR-RFLP）. Results The frequency of TNF-α-238 GG （90.7%） in chronic HB group was significantly lower than that （95.1%） in self-limited group （P=0.041）. The frequency of TNF-oc-857 CC （79.7%） in chronic HB patients was significantly higher than that （70.9%） in self-limited infected subjects （P=0.021）. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that both TNF-oc-238GA and -857CC were independently associated with chronic HB. Conclusions TNF-α promoter variants are likely to play a substantial role in influencing the outcomes of HBV infection.