Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to chronic hepatitis B.

Aim: To assess the three polymorphism regions within cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) gene, a C/T base exchange in the promoter region -318 (CTLA-4 -318C/T), an A/G substitution in the exon 1 position 49 (CTLA-4 49A/G), a T/C substitution in 1172 (CTLA-4 -1172T/C) in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Methods: Fifty-one patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection and 150 healthy subjects were recruited sequentially as they presented to the hepatic clinic. Classification of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected patients was as asymptomatic carrier state (26 patients) and chronic hepatitis B (25 patients). Genomic DNA was isolated from anti-coagulated peripheral blood Buffy coat using Milleros salting-out method. The presence of the CTLA-4 gene polymorphisms was determined using polymerase chain reaction amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS).

Results: We observed a significant association between -318 genotypes frequency (T+C-, T+C+, T-C+) and susceptibility to chronic hepatitis B (P=0.012, OR=0.49, 95%CI: 0.206-1.162). However, we did not observe a significant association for +49 genotype frequency (T+C+, T+C- T-C+) and -1172 genotype frequency (C+T+, T+C- C+T-) and state of disease.

Conclusion: Our results suggest that CTLA-4 gene polymorphisms may partially be involved in the susceptibility to chronic hepatitis B.