Genetic Association of Interleukin-6 Polymorphism (rs1800796) with Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Chinese Han Population

Impact of IL-6 rs1800795 and rs1800796 polymorphisms on clinical outcomes of COVID-19: a study on severity of disease in Turkish population

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is exacerbated by cytokine storms, leading to severe inflammation. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) plays a critical role in this process, and variations in its promoter may influence disease severity. This study aims to investigate the relationship between IL6 promoter polymorphisms rs1800795 (G > C) and rs1800796 (G > C) and the severity of COVID-19 in the Turkish population. A total of 332 participants were included: 84 control, 80 with mild COVID-19, and 168 with severe COVID-19. IL6 polymorphisms were genotyped using the restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method. The genotypes rs1800795 GC (OR = 3.00, 95% CI: 1.669-5.398, p < 0.000), CC (OR = 7.44, 95% CI: 2.899-19.131, p < 0.000), and rs1800796 GC (OR = 2.76, 95% CI: 1.603-4.761, p < 0.000), as well as the alleles rs1800795 C (OR = 3.01, p < 0.000) and rs1800796 C (OR = 1.97, p = 0.002), may be associated with the severity of COVID-19. According to the Jonckheere-Terpstra (J-T) test, the most significant trends that vary linearly with disease severity were observed for D-dimer [J-T = 15.896, Effect size = 0.68 (0.61 to 0.76), p < 0.000] and CRP [J-T = 15.389, Effect size = 0.66 (0.59 to 0.73), p < 0.000]. The distribution of clinical parameters across genotype combinations (rs1800796/rs1800795*) showed that GC/GC* and GC/CC* were linked to a higher risk of severe inflammation, clotting, and organ damage. Additionally, it has been determined that the G-C and C-C haplotypes may be associated with increased severity of COVID-19. The rs1800795 and rs1800796 polymorphisms are linked to COVID-19 severity and could help guide future treatment strategies.

Correlation analysis of IL-37 gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to chronic HBV infection among Han people in Central China

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is responsible for various liver diseases, such as chronic hepatitis B (CHB), liver fibrosis, liver cirrhosis (LC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which pose a significant threat to human health. An ineffective immune response to HBV can result in viral chronicity. Interleukin-37 (IL-37), an immunomodulator, is capable of inhibiting both innate and adaptive immune responses. It is believed that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the IL-37 gene could contribute to the regulation of HBV clearance. Our aim to conduct this study was to investigate whether SNPs in the IL-37 gene were associated with the risk of chronic HBV infection in adults. A total of 342 participants, consisting of 171 cases and 171 controls, were recruited for this study. Sanger sequencing was employed for genotyping six SNPs (rs3811042 G/A, rs3811043 G/C, rs2466449 A/G, rs3811045 C/T, rs3811046 T/G and rs3811047G/A). There was no significant difference in allele and genotype distribution between the two groups, and the constructed haplotypes were not found to be associated with the risk of chronic HBV infection. Our results revealed that there was no relationship between these six SNPs (rs3811042G/A, rs3811043G/C, rs2466449A/G, rs3811045C/T, rs3811046T/G and rs3811047G/A) in the IL-37 gene and susceptibility to chronic HBV infection among Han people in Central China.

IL-6 gene polymorphism predicts PEGylated IFN-α treatment response in hepatitis B surface antigen-positive chronic hepatitis B patients

Background: Genetic polymorphism can affect the response to antiviral therapy of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. Objective: The study examined the genetic association of the IL-6 rs1800796 polymorphism with PEGylated IFN-α (PegIFN-α) treatment response in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive CHB patients. Methods: Direct sequencing was done for the genotyping of the rs1800796 polymorphism in the serum of CHB patients. Results: More patients with combined response (n = 95) carried IL-6 rs1800796 GC genotypes, while CC genotype carriers possessed reduced HBeAg seroconversion rate and high values of hepatitis B virus DNA. Baseline HBsAg and HBeAg and IL-6 rs1800796 CC genotype were independently related to PegIFN-α treatment response. Conclusion: Detection of the IL-6 rs1800796 genotype in CHB patients may have potential guiding significance for PegIFN-α response.

Relationship between IL-17, TNF-α, IL-10, IFN-γ, and IL-18 polymorphisms with the outcome of hepatitis B virus infection in the Turkish population

OBJECTIVE

Hepatitis B virus is a global threat that can lead to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. For the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus, polymorphisms might be an option for gene treatments. This study aimed to investigate the effects of IL-17, TNF-α, IL-10, IFN-γ, and IL-18 gene polymorphisms on hepatitis B virus infection in the Turkish population.

METHODS

The genotypes and allele distribution of 75 patients exposed to hepatitis B virus and 50 healthy control individuals were analyzed. The real-time polymerase chain reaction method was used for identification.

RESULTS

A correlation was observed between susceptibility to hepatitis B virus infection and IL-17 Exon 3/3'UTR (rs1974226) C, IL-17 Exon 3 (rs763780) A, IL-18 (-607) (rs1946518) A alleles, and IL-17 Exon 3 (rs763780) AA genotype (p=0.006, p=0.009, p=0.025, and p=0.008, respectively). Furthermore, IL-18 (-137) (rs187238) TT genotype and TNF-α-308 (rs1800629) G and A alleles, were associated with protection against hepatitis B virus infection (p=0.0351 and p=0.032, respectively).

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that TNF-α (-308), IL-17 (Exon 3/3' UTR), IL-17 (Exon 3), and IL-18 (-607) polymorphisms are associated with hepatitis B virus infection. Therefore, these may serve as potential therapeutic targets for chronic viral hepatitis in the Turkish population.

Association of IL6 and IL10 gene promotor polymorphisms with susceptibility to acute necrotizing encephalopathy

Objective

Acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE) is a severe complication of infectious diseases affecting the brain and systemic organs. The main pathogenesis is cytokine storm, in which interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) are candidates for key cytokines. To further elucidate their roles in the etiology and pathogenesis of ANE, we studied polymorphisms in the promotor regions of the IL6 and IL10 genes by genetic and functional analyses.

Methods

We first conducted a case-control association study of four IL6 and three IL10 polymorphisms. We genotyped 31 Japanese ANE cases and compared the results with those of approximately 200 Japanese controls. For the two polymorphisms showing a possible association, we next studied whether the polymorphisms alter the production of IL-6 or IL-10 by lymphoblasts upon phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) stimulation.

Results

The frequencies of IL6 rs1800796G allele and IL10 rs1800871/rs1800872 CC/CC diplotype were significantly higher in ANE cases than in controls. The IL10 CC/CC diplotype was associated with low IL-10 production, whereas the IL6 GG genotype was not associated with IL-6 production.

Conclusion

IL10 rs1800871/rs1800872 CC/CC diplotype may predispose Japanese children to ANE by altering IL-10 production in the early phase of infection. Etio-pathogenetic significance of IL6 rs1800796G remains to be elucidated.

Association of Nucleostemin Polymorphisms with Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Chinese Han Population

Background: Chronic hepatitis B virus infection (CHB) is a common infectious disease that poses a global economic and health burden due to its high morbidity and mortality. Studies have demonstrated that host genetic factors play critical roles in the susceptibility and outcome of CHB. Aims: In this study, we aimed to assess the potential role of genetic variants of the nucleostemin (NS) gene with respect to CHB susceptibility. Materials and Methods: Four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the NS gene were genotyped in 446 patients with CHB and 399 healthy controls all of Chinese Han origin using the polymerase chain reaction-ligation detection reaction method. Results: The results showed that the three SNPs, rs3733039, rs1866268, and rs11177, were significantly associated with CHB. After a Bonferroni correction, the positive association of the rs3733039 SNP with CHB remained significant. Further analyses based on gender demonstrated that these SNPs are associated with CHB in both the female and male subgroups. After correction for multiple comparisons, all three SNPs in the female group were associated with CHB, whereas only the rs1866268 SNP in the male group was associated with CHB. Haplotype analysis showed that the C-C-G and T-T-T haplotypes in the block consisting of rs3733039-rs1866268-rs11177 were significantly associated with CHB. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated a genetic association between SNPs in the NS gene and the risk of CHB in the Chinese Han population for the first time. Thus, variations in the NS gene might serve as potential genetic biomarkers of CHB.