Genetic variants in IL4RA, IL6, and IL12B genes and susceptibility to hepatitis B and C virus infections among Iraqi patients.

Hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV and HCV) are common causative pathogens of viral hepatitis. Progression of both infections is determined by virus- and host-related factors. Cytokines are important host genetic factors that may have a predisposing role in HBV and HCV infections.

Cytokine gene polymorphisms in Iraqi Arabs.

In this report, 224 unrelated healthy Iraqi Arabs (102 males and 122 females) were genotyped for 22 SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) belong to 13 cytokine genes (IL1A, IL1B, IL1RA, IL1R, IL2, IL4, IL4R, IL6, IL10, IL12, IFNG, TNFA and TGFB1). The method of detection was PCR-SSP (polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific primer). The data were presented in terms of allele and genotype frequencies.