Lack of Association between IFN-γ, CXCL10 and TGF-β1 Gene Polymorphisms and Liver Complication in HIV-infected Thais.

Objective: Chronic liver disease has become a leading cause of illness and death in people living with HIV and the production of the cytokines IFN-γ and TGF-β1, and chemokine CXCL10 during chronic inflammation contributes to liver disease progression in HIV patients under long-term anti-retroviral therapy. This study aimed to examine association of IFN-γ +874T/A, CXCL10 G-201A and C-1596T, and TGF-β1 -509C/T single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with liver complications in the HIV-infected Thais.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 200 Thai HIV patients who were evaluated for transaminitis and significant liver fibrosis by fibrosis-4 score (FIB-4), and genotypes for IFN-γ +874T/A, CXCL10 G-201A and C-1596T, and TGF-β1 -509C/T SNPs using PCR-based methods.

Result: There were high rates of transaminitis (30.1%) and significant liver fibrosis assessed by FIB-4 score > 1.45 (18.8%) in this group of patients, mostly under anti-retroviral therapy (73.0%). The genotypes and alleles of IFN-γ +874T/A, CXCL10 G-201A and C-1596T, and TGF-β1 -509C/T SNPs were not associated with either transaminitis or FIB-4 score > 1.45 (p > 005). Logistic regression analysis identified age and gender as risk factors, and CD4+ cell count higher than 350 cells/ul as a protective factor of liver fibrosis in this study group.

Conclusion: The IFN-γ +874T/A, CXCL10 G-201A and C-1596T, and TGF-β11 -509C/T SNPs were not significantly associated with liver complication in HIV-infected Thais, mostly under ART.