Impact of IL28B gene polymorphisms on interferon-?3 plasma levels during pegylated interferon-?/ribavirin therapy for chronic hepatitis C in patients coinfected with HIV.
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ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVES:The mechanism explaining the strong association between IL28B rs12979860 polymorphisms and treatment outcome in chronic hepatitis C remains unclear. We explore whether IL28B protein [interferon (IFN)-?3] plasma levels may vary according to IL28B genotype and/or following pegylated IFN-?/ribavirin therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS:A total of 112 HIV/hepatitis C virus (HCV)-coinfected patients who completed a course of pegylated IFN-?/ribavirin therapy were examined. Sustained virological response (SVR) was achieved by 56% of patients. IL28B rs12979860 alleles were genotyped using the 5' nuclease assay with specific TaqMan probes. A specific enzyme immunoassay was used to measure IFN-?3 plasma levels before initiating anti-HCV therapy and at week 4 of treatment. RESULTS:No significant differences between CC and non-CC IL28B carriers were found at baseline, either in the proportion of patients with detectable IFN-?3 plasma levels or in their median values. In contrast, median IFN-?3 plasma levels at week 4 of therapy significantly increased with respect to baseline in CC carriers [34.3 (16.7-56.3) versus 15.6 (15.6-30.3) pg/mL, respectively; P < 0.0001], but not in CT/TT carriers. Unexpectedly, increases in IFN-?3 at week 4 of therapy did not predict SVR. CONCLUSIONS:The exogenous administration of IFN-? may induce IFN-?3 release in IL28B CC carriers, but not in CT/TT carriers. However, this finding does not account for the link between IL28B polymorphisms and treatment outcome.
SUBMITTER: Rallon NI
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3695611 | biostudies-literature | 2012 May
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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