IL28B gene polymorphism rs12979860, but not rs8099917, contributes to the occurrence of chronic HCV infection in Uruguayan patients.

Background: Host single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) near the interleukin 28B (IL28B) locus are associated with sustained virological response to antiviral therapy and with spontaneous Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) clearance. Prevalence of these SNPs varies depending on ethnicity. The impact of IL28B SNPs in HCV-infected patients is currently unknown in Uruguay. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the distribution of polymorphisms in the IL28B gene (rs12979860 and rs8099917) among HCV-infected patients and healthy individuals in Uruguay and thus assess their possible association with the establishment of HCV infection.

Methods: DNA was recovered from 92 non-infected individuals and 78 HCV-infected patients and SNPs were determined by RFLP and allelic discrimination by real-time PCR.

Results: The distribution of rs12979860 genotypes for the infected population was 29.5%-CC, 47.4%-CT and 23.1%-TT and for the control group 45.7%, 42.4% and 11.9%, respectively. Prevalence in both infected and uninfected individuals is similar to that reported in other countries with admixed populations. The distribution of rs8099917 genotypes for the infected population was 57.7%-TT, 27.2%-TG and 14.1%-GG and for the control group 60.9%, 33.7% and 5.4%, respectively. The comparison of rs12979860 genotype distribution between the two populations evidenced a higher prevalence of the favourable genotype (CC) in the uninfected control group (p < 0.05). Additionally, results generated using logistic regression analysis show that individuals carrying rs12979860-TT or CT genotypes have a higher likelihood of developing chronic hepatitis upon infection with HCV, when compared to CC carriers, considering rs8099917 genotype as constant.

Conclusion: Patients with HCV infection have a statistically significant lower prevalence of the favourable rs12979860 genotype when compared to uninfected individuals; therefore we can establish that only IL28B rs12979860-CT and TT genotypes seem to contribute to the occurrence of chronic HCV infection in the cohort of Uruguayan population studied. Considering that a trend towards a higher frequency of "good" response genotypes was observed in responder patients, we believe that IL28B rs12979860 genotyping could be a useful tool for predicting different therapies outcome, including in the DAA era.